Gerbera Millionaire and Zero-Investment Mushrooms

Dear Reader,

While growing up, I avoided many mistakes my teenage friends made. I also bunked classes to watch movies, but I knew exactly how much indiscipline my school and parents could tolerate. I never exceeded those limits.

You know who helped me draw that line? My elder brother. By sharing his experiences, he helped me avoid many mistakes. So my teenage life was never chaotic. 

This is the importance of having someone experienced around you – one can avoid many mistakes. That’s why, when Sachin Shelar, an MBA, was marketing his company’s high-quality saplings to farmers, they refused to buy them. They said you grow them first; we will see the results and then buy them.

After two years, Sachin took up the challenge, bought a loss-making polyhouse in Satara, Maharashtra, and began growing seedless cucumbers. He later shifted to gerbera farming in a polyhouse and today earns a turnover of Rs 36 lakh per acre (over Rs 1 crore from three acres). A perfect template for farmers!

Sachin shared the details of his farming and marketing strategies that make him successful. Do look up this story. 

From Odisha, my colleague Malay wrote a heartwarming piece about tribal women from the villages of Mayurbhanj. They formed an FPO and began making Sal leaf plates in 2022. Today, they sell biodegradable and eco-friendly plates in Odisha and other states and are set to start exports to the US. Their FPO clocked a turnover of Rs 1.3 crore in FY25 and hopes to hit Rs 5 crore soon. 

Last week, I also spoke to Rajkumari Binita Devi from Moirangkampu Sajeb village of Manipur’s Imphal East district. She started oyster mushroom farming with zero investment, and now the annual turnover is Rs 52 lakh. She sells fresh mushrooms and makes value-added products like noodles, papads, etc. How did she achieve this? The details are in the story here.

Our Sunday piece is on Kachai lemons, also from Manipur. They have received the GI tag for their sourness and size, which is not found in any other variety in India. The Kachai village youth are shifting from backyard to commercial cultivation and processing of lemons due to their rising demand and good income opportunities.

Happy Reading!

Warmly,

Rashmi