Meet the Entrepreneur Empowering 2,700 Farmers with a Thriving Business Venture

Quick Summary

• Rajiv Ranjan,a computer engineer from Darbhanga,Bihar,left lucrative jobs in the US to support local farmers.
• During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, Ranjan returned to his village and noticed challenges faced by fox nut farmers.
• He started fox nut cultivation on 40 acres of land and expanded by leasing an additional 80 acres.
• In 2023, Ranjan founded “Manigachhi Midas Farmer Producer Company Limited,” enrolling over 2,700 farmers.
• The company introduced improved production techniques that boosted output to 57 tons of fox nuts and achieved a turnover of Rs 9 crores.
• Farmers benefited financially as the price of fox nuts rose from Rs 280 per kilo to Rs 1,200 per kilo under Ranjan’s guidance.

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Indian Opinion analysis

Rajiv Ranjan’s transition from software engineering in American firms to cultivating fox nuts is significant for rural economic growth. By uniting over 2,700 farmers into a Farmer Producer Company (FPC), he has demonstrated how organized cooperatives can address inefficiencies and improve incomes for agricultural communities.

The boost in fox nut prices-from Rs 280/kg to Rs 1,200/kg-reveals how structured marketing strategies combined with enhanced production techniques can transform traditionally low-return farming ventures into profitable enterprises. Additionally, this case underscores the potential for educated professionals like Rajiv to bridge gaps between traditional farming methods and innovative practices without relying solely on external interventions.

This initiative reflects the untapped potential within India’s agriculture sector when combined with grassroots engagement and local business models-the kind that aligns well with self-reliance principles critical for sustainable rural growth.