Farming was once viewed as a traditional means of livelihood, but with passion and innovation, it can now generate crores. Pradeep Kumar Dwivedi from Prayagraj is a perfect example of this transformation. Through organic farming, he has not only achieved remarkable success but also empowered 40,000 farmers financially. His annual earnings have soared to ₹48 crore. Let’s delve into how a corporate professional revolutionized agriculture and made a significant impact in the world of organic products.
Pradeep Kumar Dwivedi has a strong educational background, holding a BTech in Food Science and an MTech in Chemical Engineering from HBTI, Kanpur. With 26 years of experience in R&D, product engineering, quality analysis, pharmaceuticals, and the FMCG sector, he built a solid foundation before venturing into the world of organic farming.
After spending many years in multinational companies, Pradeep Kumar Dwivedi began questioning his future- would he always be in a job, or could his efforts make a greater impact, particularly for farmers? This contemplation steered him towards farming.
In 2010, at the peak of his career, Pradeep Kumar Dwivedi made the bold decision to leave the corporate world and venture into organic farming. He began cultivating and engaging in contract farming on 300 acres of land in Fatehpur district.
In the beginning, he encountered numerous challenges, but his technical expertise and marketing skills played a crucial role in helping him overcome them and move forward.
Quinoa Farming in India
A pivotal moment in Pradeep's life occurred when he visited Peru in South America and discovered quinoa, a superfood crop. Recognizing its potential, he decided that quinoa could be successfully grown in India.
He began cultivating quinoa in Bahua village, Fatehpur district, with just four farmers. Convincing farmers to try this new crop wasn't easy at first, but as they witnessed its benefits, their interest in growing quinoa gradually grew.
Pradeep's company now collaborates with over 40,000 farmers across Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Bihar, and Chhattisgarh.
He has streamlined the entire farming process by offering farmers seeds, technical guidance, post-harvest processing, and marketing support. His company now cultivates a variety of crops, including quinoa, chia seeds, moringa, flax seeds, and organic spices.
What began as a modest ₹5 lakh business has now grown into a thriving enterprise with an annual turnover of ₹48 crore.
Pradeep Kumar Dwivedi has received several prestigious awards for his innovation and contribution to improving the economic condition of farmers:
