TV
From being an MBA graduate to earning crores through vegetable farming, Smarika Chandrakar has proved that anything is possible. The Chhattisgarh girl successfully transitioned from a successful corporate job to full-time farming and has become a source of inspiration for many.
The talented girl has proved that farming can also be a profitable business.
Smarika, an MBA graduate, grew up in Charmudiya village, immersed in the farming lifestyle with her father and grandfather. Despite the ups and downs of agricultural life, she quickly adapted and learned the essentials of farming from a young age.
She pursued an engineering degree in Computer Science in Raipur, followed by an MBA in Pune. After five years as a senior business development executive in Pune, she relocated to Raipur to be closer to her family.
Weekend visits to her family's farm reignited her interest in agriculture, leading to discussions on enhancing farm productivity. Smarika now operates Dhara Krishi Farm with her father and brother.
Recognizing the higher profitability of vegetable farming compared to paddy, she began experimenting with vegetables on their land. The success of these experiments led her to switch over 20 acres to vegetable farming and quit her job to become a full-time farmer in 2021.
She identified that vegetables with their shorter growth cycles and multiple harvests per year are more profitable than traditional crops like rice and wheat.
Smarika's transition involved significant preparation, including soil health improvement using cow dung and vermicompost, installing fences, setting up a proper drainage system, and implementing drip irrigation.
With the help of an agricultural consultant, she successfully grew her first tomato crop, which yielded an impressive 50 tonnes per acre in the first year. Since then there has been no turning back for Smarika. She has given income sources to several local people and aims to transform her area through farming.
