While 90 per cent of companies surveyed across the globe plan to implement return-to-office policy by the end of this year, according to a report published in the last quarter of 2023, there are many who have chosen to not return to big cities and their fancy jobs post the pandemic. They have rather chosen to stay back in their hometown and either take up farming or get into businesses such as agro-farms and farm tourism.
“In 2020, when the pandemic hit, though I was fortunate enough to have not been fired, my salary was reduced substantially. Observing that the company was not able to recover even after a year and had no plans in place to reinstate our original salaries or pay the arrears, I decided to take a risk and quit. I went back to my hometown in Madhya Pradesh and learnt farming from my father. I involved myself completely in it and kept taking expert advice to establish an agro-farm and later also use it for agro-tourism. I was anyway planning to start farming after my father retires from it; however, I decided to prepone my plans,” shares Abhimanyu Shrivastava. Today, Shrivastava successfully earns around Rs 63,000 in profits through both (agro farming and agro tourism) his agricultural businesses. “Although, it’s lesser than my original salary, it’s a lot to live a luxurious life here,” shares Shrivastava.
So, what’s an agro-farm and how can one turn it into a successful business?
Let’s understand…
An agro-farm is an agricultural land that is specially used for the commercial production of crops and livestock. “These farms employ diverse agricultural methods, encompassing planting, harvesting, and livestock care, to produce essential commodities such as food and fibre. Ranging in scale from family-operated enterprises to expansive industrial complexes, agro-farms play a pivotal role in meeting global demands for agricultural products. Their significance extends beyond the immediate agricultural realm, making substantial contributions to both, the food supply chain and the broader economy,” explains Vijay Chaudhary, chairman of a land investment and asset management company.
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