Turmeric Couple and MBA farmers

Dear Reader,

Turmeric (haldi) is more than just a spice or a root vegetable. For us Indians, haldi is a symbol of tradition, purity, prosperity and health. The haldi ceremony at the time of the wedding heralds a new chapter in life. 

But do you know how much our farmers earn by sowing, tending and harvesting turmeric after ten months? Between Rs 50 and Rs 80 per kg! A spice without which most Indian meals and religious ceremonies are incomplete sells at a rate that can barely cover the farmer’s costs.

To overcome this, farmers Anita and Sanjay Ghogare began processing their organically grown turmeric into powder, kumkum (vermillion), pickles and a milk spice mix, which sells for Rs 2,000 per kg. 

The couple from Loni village of Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar district told me they earn Rs 8 lakh per acre by processing turmeric, and their profit is Rs 6 lakh. They sell directly to customers and their products reach Germany, the USA, Australia and other countries.

I have always believed that the key to success in farming is adding value to the farm produce (like selling jaggery instead of sugarcane) and connecting with local customers through social media or word of mouth. These practices increase income by three to four times.

Last week, I also spoke to Raj Singh from Ghaziabad. He is a mechanical engineer and an MBA in marketing who worked with Mahindra’s auto division for 12 years. When he quit in 2019, he was drawing a salary of Rs25 lakh annually.

Today, he makes vermicompost and clocks an annual turnover of Rs 5 crore. His two brothers, both engineers, work with him. Together, they manage 750 vermicompost beds and every last Saturday of the month, they provide free training to farmers in composting. 

Their dedication to helping others goes on to reiterate that whatever we give out comes back, many times over. 

My colleague Riya has put together a piece on five MBA farmers who are now running profitable vegetable farms by bypassing middlemen and mandis. Do look it up!

Our Sunday story is about Meghamalai, a hidden gem in Tamil Nadu. Without noisy crowds and commercial clutter, Meghamalai’s scenery remains pure and meditative. 

Happy Reading!

Warmly,

Rashmi

This couple earns Rs 8 lakh per acre from organic turmeric farming; products reach Germany, Australia, US

How this engineer-MBA clocks Rs 5 crore annual turnover from vermicompost

Five MBAs who quit jobs and became successful vegetable farmers

Meghamalai: Tamil Nadu's hidden gem wrapped in mist