Harish Dhandev
Farming in India is going through a phase when the farmfolk are forced to give up their lives or hit the streets to make their voice heard. For Harish Dhandev though it is a different ballgame altogether.
Well versed in English, educated well and a engineer by vocation he decided to take up farming of Aloe Vera as a way of earning money. And since that day he has not looked back.
Having graduated in 2012 from Jaipur, he went on to pursue his Masters of Business Administration. Life for him could have been a smooth ride for him as he got a government job. He though chose to cross hurdles that came his way on a thorny path.
His job as a junior engineer in the Jaisalmer municipality did not last long and finally took to searching for alternative means of income.
Life took a turn for the good for him when he met someone from Bikaner Agriculture University.
Searching for operations other than staple jowar or millet, he found his calling in Aloe vera farming.
Farmer at work
Keeping the thirst for knowledge alive, he learnt tips and tricks of farming in an expo and started his journey as a aloe vera cultivator.
He returned to Bikaner from Delhi and bought 25,000 Aloe vera plants, which he took to Jaisalmer.
While there were his well wishers who advised him against aloe vera he chose to learn and grow.
He used his hidden marketing acumen to go the long haul and achieve the unthinkable.
Extracting the pulp he started selling it. With produce booming he started raking in the moolah.
His company ‘Naturelo Agro’ has high earnings and is 45 kilometre from Jaisalmer. Employees working are also receiving high incomes.
A newspaper report spells out that his turnover now ranges between Rs 1.5 crore to Rs 2 crore per annum. Aloe vera in Thar Desert is supplied in huge quantity to Patanjali Foods.
Initially, he planted around 80,000 saplings, which now increased to seven lakhs.