Avocado Millionaire and Pickles

Dear Reader,

There are two ways to deal with life’s challenges. One is to surrender and let fate take over. The second is to look for alternatives and fight back even when you don’t know the outcome. I believe every battle worth fighting, must be fought, and surrendering must be the last option. 

That’s what Parmeshwar Thorat did in 2018 when he was paid extremely poor rates for his pomegranate crop. Instead of resigning to fate, he began to research exotic fruits that fetch much higher prices in the market. 

Despite being in Maharashtra’s drought-prone Beed district, he decided to cultivate water-thirsty avocados on his farm. He learned about a new variety developed by IIHS Bengaluru, requiring little water, and planted just 50 saplings on 0.75 acres. 

He told me that now he earns a profit of Rs10 lakh from avocados and the sale of their grafted saplings. He is no longer dependent on middlemen, and buyers come to his farm, paying Rs600 per kg for the exotic fruit. He has expanded to two acres, and those trees will start fruiting next year, doubling his income.

My colleague Chandhini wrote two very inspiring pieces last week. She spoke to Meerut-based Laveena Jain, a cancer survivor who also fought back like Parmeshwar. She achieved two feats – beat cancer and set up a pickle business with just Rs1500 investment. 

Laveena’s enterprise Tripti Foods clocked Rs39 lakh turnover in FY24 and will cross Rs50 lakh this fiscal. Her physical, emotional, financial and entrepreneurial struggles before achieving success are detailed in the story. I recommend you read this one.

Chandhini’s other story is from her home state of Kerala. She spoke to Muhammed Bin Farooq, who has turned his childhood hobby of fishkeeping into a flourishing business. Currently pursuing PhD in fish genetics, the 28-year-old entrepreneur annually sells around 40 lakh ornamental fish of 43 varieties to buyers in India and overseas.

He had a turnover of Rs2 crore last fiscal and now wants to expand the business. Education combined with passion is a sure-shot recipe for success.

Our Sunday story is on Dehradun’s Robber’s Cave, a hideout for thieves during British rule. It is now a paradise for nature lovers.

In the Money section, my colleague Karan has listed five reasons why buying a house is a good investment even if you plan to return to your hometown after retirement. 

Happy Reading!

Warmly,
Rashmi