This man quit his high-paying MNC job to grow microgreens; clocks Rs12 lakh monthly turnover from a 500 sq ft room

When Mohit Nijhawan was working for a pharma company in Mumbai, he came across the case of a two-month-old baby who had developed a rare disease. The infant’s body had accumulated pesticides and chemicals, and his mom’s milk was causing their biomagnification (increase in concentration). The medicines were expensive, and the baby could not be saved.

Back home in Chandigarh, he saw close relatives including his brother suffering from cancer. “These cases shook me up, particularly because they were not communicable diseases but pointed to lifestyle and dietary problems. I decided to work towards improving food and nutrition that boost immunity and keep diseases at bay,” Mohit tells 30Stades.

He quit his job as the regional head of pharma MNC Sanofi Genzyme in December 2020 when he was drawing an annual package of Rs90 lakh. 

Mohit then began a microgreens venture with a friend. However, his friend cheated him and Mohit lost a lot of money.

From clinical research to microgreens cultivation

Microgreens are the first leaves that emerge from seeds after germination and are harvested within seven to ten days of sprouting. They are a concentrated source of nutrients and flavour and can be eaten in salads, sandwiches, etc.

After the initial setback, when Mohit began growing microgreens on the roof of his house, where his joint family lived, he faced opposition. “My parents wanted me to quit business and take up a job. I was paying my bills and daughter’s fees using my provident fund at that time,” says Mohit, a postgraduate in biochemistry. He has worked with some of India’s top pharma companies.

Also Read: Banker quits job to grow microgreens; earns Rs5 lakh monthly

Not the one to give up, Mohit invested Rs30,000 in setting up a small unit with a monthly rent of Rs10,000. “In 2022, I put up three racks of microgreens using a nine sq ft area of that 500 sq ft space,” says the urban farmer.

At that time, he regularly visited a local Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) and met a lot of farmers. 

“I asked the farmers to give me organic, non-genetically modified (non-GMO) seeds. In return, I promised to teach them microgreen farming that could increase their income many times,” he recollects.

The farmers began giving him organic seeds and Mohit started his journey with 21 types of seeds including broccoli, cauliflower, mustard, fenugreek, radish etc.

Also Read: Nagpur couple grows saffron in 400 sq ft room; annual revenues at Rs40 lakh

Microgreens are 40 times more nutritious than regular vegetables. “I sold the first batch to a Chandigarh-based oncologist who started seeing good health results after eating them. He started prescribing it to his patients and their overall quality of life began improving,” says Mohit. 

Business expansion and training

The word spread and Mohit kept increasing the number of racks in that room. He sells microgreens live with their roots for maximum nutritional benefits. 

Today, he grows microgreens in the same 500 sq ft facility on 60 racks that can accommodate 12,000 trays. 

His company Embryonic Greens sells the produce under the Greenu brand and they include microgreens of beetroot, radish, peas, basil, cauliflower, broccoli, sunflower, and many other varieties.

“I sell around 6000 to 7000 trays per week. Each tray has about 65 gm to 100 gm of microgreens. They are bought by health-conscious individuals, restaurants, gyms, and cafés,” says Mohit, who employs eight people. 

“With an average price of Rs200 per tray, the monthly turnover is Rs12 lakh. After deducting the operational expenses, the monthly profit is around Rs4.8 lakh,” he says.

Also Read: MBA from IIM-Bangalore takes up organic farming in Sundarbans; empowers local farmers

Mohit also trains farmers in microgreens cultivation at a fee of Rs3000 which includes a kit with seeds and trays. “I have trained over 200 farmers and entrepreneurs and helped them start turnkey projects. I believe microgreens should reach every locality to improve people’s health,” he says.

Mohit has also launched a franchise model for microgreen farming, helping set up units in Ambala, Gurugram, Mohali, Panchkula and other places.

He supports them through training, providing organic seeds and buying back the produce to ease marketing.

Recently, Mohit has expanded to edible flowers like pansy and chamomile, selling around 200 boxes a month for gourmets.  

Mohit says a 100 sq ft microgreens unit can be set up with an investment of Rs3 lakh which will cover three racks, the cost of air conditioning, seeds, growing media (cocopeat, coco fibre) and other expenses. 

Process of growing microgreens 

Mohit uses native untreated organic seeds. He procures them from local farmers who have been saving them for ages using natural methods. 

Mohit follows indoor vertical farming, which requires ambient lighting, humidity, air circulation, temperature, water, and darkness for the seeds to germinate. “A sapling growing in ideal conditions has a higher nutrient value than when grown outdoors,” he says. 

Mohit does not use soil to avoid pathogens and uses a mix of cocopeat and coco fibre as the growth medium. He sells microgreens along with trays to maintain their nutrient levels.

For microgreens to grow well, Mohit keeps the temperature below 25 degrees Celsius, provides adequate airflow, and maintains water pH between 5.5 and 6.5. Humidity is regulated by a dehumidifier at 40-60 percent.

Now he wants to spread the cultivation of microgreens to every nook and corner. “Microgreens are an easy way to incorporate nutrition in our diets and boost immunity. They should be available in every locality,” Mohit adds.

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

Also Read: How this teacher-cum-urban farmer built a successful microgreens business in Gujarat

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