Kishalay Organics and Vermicompost

Dear Reader,

Our childhood shapes our personality in many different ways. The challenges we face and the successes we achieve impact us in equal measure. As a result, after achieving all we want, there is sometimes the desire to return to our roots and make life less challenging for others. 

Something similar prompted Biplab Das to go back to the Sundarbans, the mangrove forests of West Bengal, where food, education and even life are challenging. The son of a school teacher, he did his MBA from IIM-Bangalore and got into the IT sector. 

After some years, when he felt he had earned enough, he quit his plush job with Accenture and set up education centres in Sundarbans, writes my colleague Sravasti.
To feed the underprivileged children at these centres, he began organic farming.

Through his enterprise Kishalay Organics, he also empowers local farmers by providing them with market access and clocked Rs18 lakh in revenues last year. What a way to give back to society!

My colleague Chandhini wrote about three cousins who built a Rs525-crore ethnic beverage business in just seven years. Saurabh Munjal, Nikhil Doda, and Saurabh Bhutna made ‘desi’ cool with Lahori Zeera, their flagship product.

Now, with a bigger portfolio, they sell 50 lakh bottles daily in summer. Nikhil told Chandhini the brand will cross Rs 1000 crore in revenue next fiscal. Their success shows that with a unique idea and the right marketing strategy, it’s not impossible to carve a niche even in a crowded segment.

Last week, I spoke to Pramod Saharan, an MTech in Transportation (civil engineering). He began gardening in his free time during the lockdown, and after using vermicompost, he tried making it himself. He began with five compost beds at his Kaimri village in Hisar in 2021. With successful results, he quit his job. Today, Pramod clocks annual revenues of Rs30 lakh and a profit of Rs22 lakh from just an acre.

His costs, revenues and profits are detailed in the story. If organic farming or composting interests you, then look it up.

Our Sunday story is on Mulki, dubbed the surfing capital of India. Nestled along the banks of the Shambhavi River in Karnataka, Mulki is a haven for sports enthusiasts. But why has it emerged as the best surfing destination for beginners and seasoned surfers alike? Read on to know.

Happy Reading!

Warmly,
Rashmi