This farmer earns Rs 12 lakh per acre with Shatavari farming; exports to Spain, Japan

After completing his graduation, Nimesh Verma wanted to continue his family occupation of farming in Mihinpurwa, Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh. His family grew wheat, paddy, and seasonal vegetables. However, Nimesh wanted to try newer crops that were more profitable and required lower maintenance.

“In 2012, I learned about shatavari (also satavar). This medicinal plant, with the botanical name of Asparagus racemosus, is in high demand by pharmaceutical and nutraceutical companies. An old farmer in Bahraich cultivated it on his farm for many years. I went to meet him,” Nimesh tells 30Stades.

The old farmer told him about shatavari farming, harvesting, and processing to obtain dry roots, which support reproductive health, hormonal balance, and immune functions. “I then decided to research further and visited Odisha, West Bengal and other states to learn more about shatavari cultivation and marketing,” the 37-year-old says.

Today, Nimesh clocks Rs 12 lakh per acre from shatavari farming. His net profit after deducting all expenses is around Rs 10.5 lakh.

Shatavari is among 25 medicinal herbs which are always in high demand from traditional medicine systems, including Ayurveda and Unani. The others include aloe vera, muesli, long black pepper, ashwagandha, and shankhpushpi.

Why Shatavari farming is profitable

The market for medicinal plants in India stood at Rs 420 crore in 2019. It is expected to increase to Rs 1400 crore by 2026 due to a growing domestic and international demand, according to a report by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC). 

The value of herbs increases many times over when they are processed into powders or other herbal products. 

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The export value of Ayurvedic and herbal products was 689 million dollars (around Rs 5900 crore) in fiscal year 2025, demonstrating a consistent increase since 2015, with a minor dip in 2020, says a report by research firm Statista.

“The market is growing rapidly. I have clients in India, Spain, Japan and other European countries,” Nimesh says.

The plant's roots are a key ingredient in many formulations for women's health and other ailments, driving up its market value. There is an increasing global interest in natural and herbal remedies, boosting the profitability of shatavari farming.

Its dried roots sell for Rs500 to Rs600 per kg and can fetch double this price from the export market, Nimesh says.

How Nimesh started organic farming of shatavari 

“After researching the market, I procured saplings of shatavari from the farmer in Bahraich at Rs 2 per sapling. This was in July 2012,” recalls Nimesh.

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He prepared the land by adding a lot of cow dung manure. “Being a medicinal herb, shatavari is resistant to most pests and diseases. Some infestations can occur only while flowering. But they are temporary and mostly harmless that can be handled with organic sprays,” the agripreneur says.

One acre can accommodate 12,500 saplings of shatavari. “Farmers can also use seeds. However, seeds may have a lower germination rate and require more time for the plants to mature. Saplings offer a faster and more reliable crop, leading to quicker yields and higher production,” Nimesh explains.

If using seeds, sowing is done in April. Saplings can be planted in July-August, he adds. 

There are two varieties of shatavari – yellow and white. Yellow Shatavari has a slightly thicker root peel and is often priced higher due to more medicinal benefits. “I made raised beds of about 20 cm to 25 cm, as shatavari does not require too much water. Irrigation is needed only during summer months,” he says. 

Nimesh planted the saplings at a plant-to-plant gap of 2 ft and a row-to-row gap of 2.5 ft. The soil should be loose and not hard, he says.

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He practices organic farming and only applies biofertilizers apart from cow dung manure. “The crop is ready after 18 months. If planted in August 2025, harvesting can be done in February 2027,” he says.

Processing and profits

Shatavari requires processing before sale. The crop is harvested by digging the roots, and it is then washed and boiled. The skin gets softened after boiling and is peeled. The peeled roots are dried and then powdered. 

“About 5 kg of fresh shatavari roots yield 1 kg of dry shatavari (about 20 percent of the original volume). From one acre, I harvest around 100 to 110 quintals of fresh roots, which yield around 20 to 22 quintals of powder,” he says.

Shatavari powder sells at Rs 500 to Rs 600 per kg, and Nimesh exports it at Rs 1000 per kg. “Even if we exclude exports, only domestic sales at Rs 600 per kg will yield Rs 12 lakh per acre, though I earn more by exporting to Spain and Japan,” he says.

Out of Rs12 lakh, one can deduct processing expenses of Rs1 lakh to Rs1.5 lakh. “The profit is still over Rs 10 lakh per acre,” he adds.

Within India, his clients include Patanjali Ayurved and other companies. “They procure the product from my farm, and I don’t have to go anywhere for sale,” he says. Nimesh also prepares saplings of shatavari on another one acre on his farm. “I sell the saplings at Rs2 per piece,” he adds.

(Rashmi Pratap is a Mumbai-based journalist specialising in financial, business and socio-economic reporting)

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