Profitable Farming and Terrace Forest

Dear Reader,

I wish you a very Happy New Year!

Before a new beginning, it always helps to pause and look back. It serves many purposes. Reflection reminds us of the lessons learned and the hardships endured, giving us the courage to move forward with greater clarity and purpose.

That’s why, towards the end of 2025, we analysed our most-read pieces to find the common thread among them. One of my newsletters, with over 5 lakh views, was at the top. So we skipped the category altogether and considered the rest.

The results were insightful. You, our readers, have shown the greatest interest in farming stories focused on profitability and practicality. We have compiled a list of the top ten based on readership. This curated piece shows what works in Indian agriculture today. Do look it up if you are passionate about farming business.

From Odisha, my colleague Malay wrote an interesting story about a retired forest officer who has turned his terrace into a mini forest. At an age when most people slow down, 69-year-old Sarat Kumar Behera grows nearly 300 plant varieties using only organic inputs. From vegetables and fruits to medicinal plants and honey, his terrace garden produces organic crops and nurtures biodiversity.

He does not sell the produce. Instead, he shares it with family, friends and neighbours. His terrace in Cuttack is home to birds, butterflies and bees, breathing life into an otherwise dull urban landscape. The plants also keep his home cool, cutting down the electricity bill and minimising the impact of air pollution.

To read our earlier newsletters, click here

There is an ever-increasing trend of engineers quitting fancy corporate jobs for the love of farming. The trend of moving from coding to crops used to fascinate me a few years ago. Today, it doesn't. We have collated five stories of engineer couples, who built farming businesses, spanning lemongrass, millets, mushrooms, organic produce and dairy.

What connects these couples is their approach to farming as an integrated enterprise, with a sharp focus on processing, branding, and direct sales. Their success shows that when engineering logic meets farming realities, agriculture becomes viable.

My colleague Riya wrote about the return of Kulthi dal to Indian kitchens in the form of flour, mixes, ready-to-cook soups and more. Once known mainly as animal feed, horse gram is now a superfood valued for its nutritional properties, low-cost farming, and global demand.

This is good news for farmers as it can be cultivated in drylands and exported at high rates. May the resurrection of traditional crops as modern foods continue to flourish.

Happy Reading!

Warmly,

Rashmi

10 farming stories that show what works in Indian agriculture now

How a retired forest officer built a mini forest on his terrace in Odisha

Five engineer couples who quit jobs to build profitable farming enterprises

From horse food to superfood: The rise of Kulthi in India