Carom Honey and Retirement Trees

Dear Reader,

Have you ever observed people who start working at the lowest rung and reach the top? What distinguishes them from the rest? I have observed two qualities common among such individuals – hard work and consistency.

Ultimately, success stems not from speed but from perseverance in staying the course. And that’s the story of Ghulam Mohammad Mir, who left his home in Moolu village, in South Kashmir, to work as a farm labourer in Haryana.

He began working at a daily wage of Rs 3 and doubled up as a watchman to earn more. Though his wages were low, and he had a difficult time tolerating the summer heat, Mir stayed the course and learned vegetable farming, crop cycles, marketing and soil care.

After returning home, he bought a small plot of land, writes my colleague Sameer. Today, Mir’s organic farm enterprise is spread over four acres and includes vegetable and apple farming, poultry and fishing. He employs 12 people and continues to visit Haryana to meet his first employer!

Last week, I spoke to Brijesh Kalaria, who began beekeeping in Rajkot, Gujarat, with 10 boxes on an experimental basis. But that’s not what he always wanted to do. After his bachelor’s degree in computer applications, he pursued a two-year course in animation and movie-making and got a job in a global entertainment services company in Mumbai.

Back home, however, his father was not earning much from the traditional farming of cotton and groundnuts. So Brijesh quit his job and began beekeeping to earn more from the land.

Today, he sells around 5,000 kg of organic ajwain (carom) honey annually at Rs800 per kg (Rs40 lakh annual turnover). He carries bee boxes to carom fields during the flowering season, resulting in almost black medicinal honey. Brijesh is also a government trainer and helps people become beekeeping entrepreneurs.

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From Odisha, my colleague Niroj wrote about the traditional tribal jewellery from Nabarangpur, which is gaining popularity beyond the state’s tribal communities. Trendy and handmade earrings, neckpieces and other items in brass, copper and silver are boosting artisans’ incomes and preserving the craft. More than 60 designs created by recycling silver, brass and copper have given new life and patrons to the traditional craft.

My colleague Riya has written an interesting piece about five trees that can ensure a continued funds flow after your retirement. She writes that planning for retirement doesn’t have to rely only on savings or stocks. Planting long-gestation, high-value trees that yield timber, resin and steady income is also a good retirement planning option.

She has listed the trees with examples of people who are already growing them for future benefits. Don’t miss this one!

Happy Reading!

Warmly,

Rashmi

Starting with Rs 3 daily wages, how this Kashmiri man became a millionaire farmer

Gujarat man quits film industry for beekeeping; clocks Rs40 lakh turnover from organic honey

How Nabarangpur’s tribal artisans are turning traditional jewellery into trendy pieces

Five trees that can fund your retirement