Millet Probiotics and Organic Kiwi

Dear Reader,

Battles between the heart and mind are common. Often, our mind tells us to pursue something because it is socially more acceptable and easier than our heart's desire. But sometimes, unexpected events force us to change direction and follow the heart's calling. These life-changing moments redefine our identity and often benefit society.

This is what happened with Satyabrath Muni, too. After studying at IIM Ahmedabad and dreaming of entrepreneurship, he settled down with a comfortable corporate job to avoid risks. However, when Coronavirus severely affected his father’s health, Satyabrath could no longer ignore his inner calling. He saw his mother serving his father with traditional foods for a speedy recovery. 

Impressed with the results, Satyabrath quit Mahindra Tractors to start Munico Foods in 2022 in Odisha, writes my colleague Malay.

While Munico makes products using millets, moringa, mushrooms and other traditional ingredients, its claim to fame is its millet-based probiotic drink Gutzy, the first in India. With just Rs10 lakh investment, Munico clocked Rs1.2 crore turnover last fiscal. Satyabrath is targeting Rs6 crore this fiscal on the back of his second factory set to go live this month. Interesting! Isn’t it?

When it comes to learning and experimenting, age is no bar. Last week, I spoke to a 60-year-old farmer from Solan in Himachal Pradesh who began organic kiwi farming in 2017. Tired of declining market rates for apples, Pratap Bharnal wanted to diversify towards something more profitable.

A visit to the local horticulture university in Nauni introduced him to kiwi farming and he bought 100 plants. Since then, he has been adding 100 to 200 saplings every season. Pratap uses only cow dung manure and drip irrigation for the plants.

Do you know how much he earned from 400 kiwi plants over two acres last season? Rs42 lakh! Yes! He says the old trees yield around 70 kg of kiwis every season. This will increase to 80 to 100 kg of kiwis next season as plants grow older. That would translate into higher profit at low investments.

My colleague Aruna spoke to Manmoy Maji, an MBA from XISS. He works in a fintech during the week and creates murals on school walls over weekends in Bengaluru. Passionate about art, he has collaborated with 24 government schools in the city to create murals on school walls. They inspire and ignite young minds, giving a new direction to many lives.

Our Sunday story is about Nagaland’s Khonoma, possibly India's most honest village, where houses are not locked and shops are left unattended. People pick up the goods they want and leave the money at the counter. It is because the local Angami tribe follows 154 taboos called Kenyü!

Happy Reading!

Warmly,

Rashmi

IIM grad quits Mahindra Tractors to start a healthy food business; clocks Rs1.2 crore turnover and 150% growth

How this Himachal farmer earns Rs 21 lakh per acre with organic kiwi farming

This MBA artist works in a fintech during the week, creates murals on school walls over the weekends

Khonoma: The honest village of India