IIT Bombay graduate quits job to sell vegetables and fruits, what happened next will shock you
An IIT Bombay graduate and his wife left successful corporate careers to start organic farming with no prior experience. Today, their business delivers chemical-free vegetables, fruits and other farm products to customers across Delhi-NCR.
An IIT Bombay graduate who once worked in the corporate sector is now running an organic farming business that delivers fresh produce to homes across Delhi-NCR. Rakesh Anand, along with his wife Roopika Anand, traded office life for the fields after holding on to the idea of natural farming for nearly two decades. Their decision came with its share of risks, but it has since grown into a business spread across around 15 acres.
According to a report by 30Stades, the couple did not inherit farmland or come from an agricultural background. Instead, they entered farming after years of working in senior corporate roles and learnt the trade from experienced farmers before turning it into a full-time business.
Why they quit their jobs
For years, farming remained a future plan rather than an immediate goal. Rakesh was working with a multinational exhibition company in Dubai, while Roopika was building her career in banking at Emirates Bank, now Emirates NBD.
Their priorities changed after they moved back to India in 2001 to care for Rakesh's ailing mother. Roopika later worked with ICICI Bank and Reliance Capital, where she served as North Head, while Rakesh took up work in solar installations and consultancy. Even as their careers progressed, the couple continued discussing the possibility of producing food without synthetic chemicals.
"Life had its own plans. In 2001, we returned to India to care for Rakesh’s ailing mother. I later worked with ICICI Bank and Reliance Capital (North Head) while Rakesh ventured into solar installations and consultancy," Roopika said.
In 2018, they finally decided to give farming a chance by leasing two bighas of land in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh. With no prior experience, they depended on local farmers to understand crop selection, soil health and organic cultivation.
"We grew vegetables, pulses and grains primarily for our family and close friends. With guidance from my friend’s father and his extended family, we learnt the basics of organic cultivation, soil management and seasonal crop planning," Rakesh said.
The first season gave them enough confidence to increase the area under cultivation the following year.
How the business grew
The biggest test came sooner than expected. As the couple prepared to sell their first large harvest, the Covid-19 lockdown brought markets and transport to a standstill.
Instead of waiting for normal business to resume, they looked for customers closer to home. Roopika began supplying vegetables within their residential community, and satisfied buyers started recommending them to others. Without spending on advertising, the customer base gradually expanded across Delhi-NCR.
"We hired a delivery person and began supplying vegetables directly to homes. What started as helping neighbours during the pandemic slowly evolved into a loyal customer base across Delhi-NCR," Roopika said.
The steady demand prompted the couple to expand. They later purchased three acres of farmland in Pilakhua and continued cultivating leased land, increasing the total area under cultivation to around 15 acres.
Today, the farm produces vegetables, fruits, grains, pulses and millets using natural inputs prepared from cow dung, cow urine, vermicompost, buttermilk and neem instead of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides. Along with fresh produce, the couple sells cold-pressed oils, traditional pickles and preservative-free fruit ice creams through WhatsApp, online orders and referrals, while vegetables are delivered to customers in Delhi-NCR several times every week.
An IIT Bombay graduate who once worked in the corporate sector is now running an organic farming business that delivers fresh produce to homes across Delhi-NCR. Rakesh Anand, along with his wife Roopika Anand, traded office life for the fields after holding on to the idea of natural farming for nearly two decades. Their decision came with its share of risks, but it has since grown into a business spread across around 15 acres.
According to a report by 30Stades, the couple did not inherit farmland or come from an agricultural background. Instead, they entered farming after years of working in senior corporate roles and learnt the trade from experienced farmers before turning it into a full-time business.
Why they quit their jobs
For years, farming remained a future plan rather than an immediate goal. Rakesh was working with a multinational exhibition company in Dubai, while Roopika was building her career in banking at Emirates Bank, now Emirates NBD.
Their priorities changed after they moved back to India in 2001 to care for Rakesh's ailing mother. Roopika later worked with ICICI Bank and Reliance Capital, where she served as North Head, while Rakesh took up work in solar installations and consultancy. Even as their careers progressed, the couple continued discussing the possibility of producing food without synthetic chemicals.
"Life had its own plans. In 2001, we returned to India to care for Rakesh’s ailing mother. I later worked with ICICI Bank and Reliance Capital (North Head) while Rakesh ventured into solar installations and consultancy," Roopika said.
In 2018, they finally decided to give farming a chance by leasing two bighas of land in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh. With no prior experience, they depended on local farmers to understand crop selection, soil health and organic cultivation.
"We grew vegetables, pulses and grains primarily for our family and close friends. With guidance from my friend’s father and his extended family, we learnt the basics of organic cultivation, soil management and seasonal crop planning," Rakesh said.
The first season gave them enough confidence to increase the area under cultivation the following year.
How the business grew
The biggest test came sooner than expected. As the couple prepared to sell their first large harvest, the Covid-19 lockdown brought markets and transport to a standstill.
Instead of waiting for normal business to resume, they looked for customers closer to home. Roopika began supplying vegetables within their residential community, and satisfied buyers started recommending them to others. Without spending on advertising, the customer base gradually expanded across Delhi-NCR.
"We hired a delivery person and began supplying vegetables directly to homes. What started as helping neighbours during the pandemic slowly evolved into a loyal customer base across Delhi-NCR," Roopika said.
The steady demand prompted the couple to expand. They later purchased three acres of farmland in Pilakhua and continued cultivating leased land, increasing the total area under cultivation to around 15 acres.
Today, the farm produces vegetables, fruits, grains, pulses and millets using natural inputs prepared from cow dung, cow urine, vermicompost, buttermilk and neem instead of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides. Along with fresh produce, the couple sells cold-pressed oils, traditional pickles and preservative-free fruit ice creams through WhatsApp, online orders and referrals, while vegetables are delivered to customers in Delhi-NCR several times every week.
An IIT Bombay graduate who once worked in the corporate sector is now running an organic farming business that delivers fresh produce to homes across Delhi-NCR. Rakesh Anand, along with his wife Roopika Anand, traded office life for the fields after holding on to the idea of natural farming for nearly two decades. Their decision came with its share of risks, but it has since grown into a business spread across around 15 acres.
According to a report by 30Stades, the couple did not inherit farmland or come from an agricultural background. Instead, they entered farming after years of working in senior corporate roles and learnt the trade from experienced farmers before turning it into a full-time business.
Why they quit their jobs
For years, farming remained a future plan rather than an immediate goal. Rakesh was working with a multinational exhibition company in Dubai, while Roopika was building her career in banking at Emirates Bank, now Emirates NBD.
Their priorities changed after they moved back to India in 2001 to care for Rakesh's ailing mother. Roopika later worked with ICICI Bank and Reliance Capital, where she served as North Head, while Rakesh took up work in solar installations and consultancy. Even as their careers progressed, the couple continued discussing the possibility of producing food without synthetic chemicals.
"Life had its own plans. In 2001, we returned to India to care for Rakesh’s ailing mother. I later worked with ICICI Bank and Reliance Capital (North Head) while Rakesh ventured into solar installations and consultancy," Roopika said.
In 2018, they finally decided to give farming a chance by leasing two bighas of land in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh. With no prior experience, they depended on local farmers to understand crop selection, soil health and organic cultivation.
"We grew vegetables, pulses and grains primarily for our family and close friends. With guidance from my friend’s father and his extended family, we learnt the basics of organic cultivation, soil management and seasonal crop planning," Rakesh said.
The first season gave them enough confidence to increase the area under cultivation the following year.
How the business grew
The biggest test came sooner than expected. As the couple prepared to sell their first large harvest, the Covid-19 lockdown brought markets and transport to a standstill.
Instead of waiting for normal business to resume, they looked for customers closer to home. Roopika began supplying vegetables within their residential community, and satisfied buyers started recommending them to others. Without spending on advertising, the customer base gradually expanded across Delhi-NCR.
"We hired a delivery person and began supplying vegetables directly to homes. What started as helping neighbours during the pandemic slowly evolved into a loyal customer base across Delhi-NCR," Roopika said.
The steady demand prompted the couple to expand. They later purchased three acres of farmland in Pilakhua and continued cultivating leased land, increasing the total area under cultivation to around 15 acres.
Today, the farm produces vegetables, fruits, grains, pulses and millets using natural inputs prepared from cow dung, cow urine, vermicompost, buttermilk and neem instead of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides. Along with fresh produce, the couple sells cold-pressed oils, traditional pickles and preservative-free fruit ice creams through WhatsApp, online orders and referrals, while vegetables are delivered to customers in Delhi-NCR several times every week.
