Resigned from IT jobs, Techie established a company worth Rs 1 crore among 150 farmers

Techie quits IT jobs and starts farming…Know more…

Monday, 2nd August 2021

Parathasaradhi Nara launched Anantha Naturals, an agricultural production company that worked with 150 farmers to sell non-toxic products in Bangalore using natural farming methods. Fruits, vegetables and other items come from

 Parthasaradhi Nara in Uppanesinapalli Village, Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh, belonging to a farming family. Over the years, his grandfather, father, and uncles have cultivated 90 acres of land.

"My grandfather took the lead in agricultural activities on the farm, growing millet, beans and other vegetables to ensure our family's food security. His meticulous plan ensures that we will not be short of food even in dry years.

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The family only spends money on basic items such as oil, spices, and basic necessities. "Our land and our production have prospered. Over the years, the farmland has expanded to 120 acres, and 30 farm workers are farming every day," Parthasaradhi recalled.

However, after the early 1990s, as traditional farmers who used natural methods to grow food began to use chemical fertilizers and pesticides, the situation began to deteriorate.

"The use of artificial fertilizers, pesticides and pesticides began to enter the agricultural sector. When my father and my uncle took over, the use of our farm became excessive," said the 42-year-old.

 "Natural agriculture opens the door"

 In 2001, Parthasaradhi completed a graduate degree in computer science from Rayalaseema University. "However, the information technology industry was not thriving at the time and could not support the family. I started to explore other ideas to get rid of our debt," he said.

 Parthasaradhi learned that in addition to traditional crops such as peanuts, red chickpeas, and rice, some farmers in the area have also begun to grow papaya. Parthasaradhi decided to do the same thing. , And received a bumper harvest worth 1 million rupees in 2002. “But despite the bumper harvest, we were unable to find buyers due to our lack of marketing knowledge,” he said.

 In 2004, Parthasaradhi found a Even moved to the United States to work. But the idea of ??restoring agriculture to its former glory still lingered in his mind.

 In 2008, he returned to India for personal reasons. While continuing to work in IT in Bangalore, he also took time out every other weekend to help his family go home. Here, he tried to plant sweet linden orchards. He prepared them for five years and tried various bananas in 2009.

 Parthasaradhi then leased part of the land to grow bananas and earn commissions from it. "But we only managed to sell 40% of the harvest and 30% was wasted. We distributed the rest to family and friends. I invested 700,000 rupees and agreed to sell the harvest to traders for 1.1 million rupees. Explore the marketing department However, the merchant only gave me Rs 600,000 and I suffered a loss as a result, "he added.

 However, in 2012, he came across a magazine in Telugu that reported on natural farming methods and seminars held in Telangana. He talked to his family about trying new farming methods, and they all agreed to donate money.

 Community-driven model

 However, when he joined a group of farmers engaged in natural agriculture, he realized that many people were unable to commercialize their products. “Farmers are skeptical about organic methods and raised multiple questions about potential markets and profits. I decided to tie up farmers in Anantapur district and build a good market network in the urban area,” he said.

 In 201617, Parthasaradhi and a small number of farmers began to sell their products within 40 kilometers of their village. By organizing a farmer’s market, they provided exclusive agricultural products without chemicals. In October 2017, they began to slowly enter Bangalore's gated community.

 "We did not invest money, but we contacted potential buyers through friends and WhatsApp groups. The response was very good and we decided to expand the scale in the second year and expand the range of products, including cold-pressed oil, grains, and seasonal fruits. Perishable and non-perishable items like vegetables and greens. It has become a community model, "he said.

 Parthasaradhi added that the residents coordinated the order with him and that the farmers harvested accordingly to deliver fresh produce. In the end, his friends in the IT department decided to help him develop an application to manage orders. That same year, they launched Anantha Naturals, an agricultural production company.

The News Talkie Bureau

Source:

ThebetterIndia