Rambutan MBA and Turmeric Innovator

Dear Reader,

Human beings have an inherent capacity for learning and innovation. We may not pursue innovation on a daily basis, but when situations turn tough and options are limited, we tend to put on our thinking caps and find a solution.

That’s what Vinod Todkar did when a rapid decline in turmeric production and a rise in fertiliser prices made farming unviable in Sangli, Maharashtra. He shifted to organic farming, which is not unusual. But what makes him an innovator is the low-cost NPK biofertiliser he created on his farm. It benefits crops, increases yields, and is extremely economical for farmers.

The details of Vinod’s organic formulation are in the story. But he did not stop there.

He began processing raw organic turmeric into powder and now sells it under his own brand, often prescribed by doctors as a supplement for various ailments.

He told my colleague Riya that he sells organic turmeric in glass bottles of 200 g each, clocking Rs21 lakh annual turnover from just 1.5 acres of land. His annual profit is Rs 14 lakh. Vinod also offers free consultation to farmers.

Last week, I spoke to Shino Matthew from Thodapuzha in Kerala. An MBA in marketing and finance, he quit his job with Axis Bank to be with his father, who was not well. Shino had to take up farming to look after his family’s rubber plantations.

He soon understood rubber was no longer profitable due to rising labour costs. So in 2015, he experimented with rambutan on an acre of land, and in the fourth year, people began coming to his farm to buy the exotic fruit.

He now grows the N18 rambutan variety over four acres. Can you guess how much the older trees yield every season? About 100 kg each! At a market rate of Rs140 per kg, each tree is generating an income of Rs14,000 per season.

To read last week's newsletter, click here

Across India, annual seed festivals are reviving indigenous and organic farming practices. Farmers and seed savers gather to exchange and sell heirloom varieties and share knowledge on biodiversity conservation. My colleague Anu painstakingly collected information about ten such native seed festivals. Do look it up.

The success stories of women in farming are multiplying as they attend training programmes and take up farming after higher education, which helps in technology adoption and marketing. My colleague Riya has put together a piece on five women farmers who took big risks to find gains.

Our Sunday story is on jackfruit. With the global rise of veganism, food entrepreneurs, chefs, and consumers use the unripe jackfruit’s fibrous, stringy texture to mimic shredded meat. The ancient fruit is the new base for tacos, kebabs and ready-to-cook meat substitutes. How did the ancient fruit become a vegan superfood? Read on to know!

Happy Reading!

Warmly,

Rashmi

This Maharashtra farmer clocks Rs 21 lakh turnover from organic turmeric farming

MBA farmer replaces family’s rubber plantation with rambutan; old trees yield 100 kg per season

Ten seed festivals where you can buy native seeds

Five women farmers who took big risks and now earn in lakhs