Maharashtra Farmer Sets Example Through Successful Cultivation of Exotic Vegetables

Dr Vilas Kale is a farmer from Pune who has become a role model for other farmers through his success. After getting a PhD in Organic Chemistry from Canada, he started cultivating vegetables from across the world in his field in Maharashtra. The vegetables he grows are in high demand among the chefs of five-star hotels.

"It was an accident. Way back in 1990, one day I sowed broccoli seeds in my farm. It was just for personal consumption. But the crop was so good that I took it to the market to sell. That was the beginning of this farming of foreign vegetables," said Kale, who is a media shy person.

Almost 150 types of vegetables are growing in his farm now. Several expensive and rare vegetables like Asparagus (Rs 800 kg), Onion Chiv (Rs 400 kg) or Rokuttel (Rs 200 kg) can be found at his farm. "Our business is based on demand. We have some fixed customers who call us and order their vegetables. We pack it here in our farm and send it to our agent in Mumbai, Pune, Delhi or Kolkata. Further delivery is taken care of by agents only," he said.

The multinational companies in India which have senior employees from across the world require foreign vegetables, that are not easily available here, for their continental kitchens. So, such companies are in the lookout for farmers like Kale who produce these vegetables. Talking about his customers, he said, "Samsung is one of our prime customers. They call us and order specific vegetables. We ensure that they get the vegetables delivered as per their tight schedule. We have been able to gain their trust that we can deliver as per their demands. This is what I believe is our real achievement."

He has named his farm as Winka Farm, which is spread across an area of 12 acres in his village, Ghedegaon in Pune. "My monthly turnover goes upto Rs 4 lakh. I earn enough to live peaceful and respectfully. The only thing is that we need to be in constant touch with the international markets so that we can plan our production accordingly. But that is one of the skills required to be successful as a farmer," he added.

He also said that he has learnt a lot over the last 30 years in this field. For almost 15 years, he used to plant rosemary but did not get success. He later found out that the heavy rains in the area was affecting the rosemary crop, so he put up a shed in the plantation. "Now I am the largest producer of rosemary in the state. During the season the production goes up to 100 kg sometimes. This shows that one needs patience and also to keep learning constantly to be successful in this type of farming," he said.

Explaining how he started the business, he said that he rented a piece of land to start with. He studied the need and demands of the market. "This is comparatively a small field. So, that one can predict the goods coming to market. This gives an idea about the required investment for a particular crop. This is how I am expanding the business," he said.

Till now, he has invested nearly Rs 2 crore. But the returns have been good in comparison. "I had no specific degree in agriculture. So I had to start from scratch. From finding out the crops from across the world to getting them to India was also a tough job. But over the period, I have managed to do that," he said.

Kale nowadays go to colleges in Maharashtra to talk about his farming business. Speaking about his principles, he said, "I have a simple one line principle. Observe what is selling and grow that. This gives a good window to enter and stay in the market. Your continuous presence in market is also very important in this kind of farming."

At a time when farmers of the country are losing hope, Kale’s story offers a ray of hope. He said that he thinks the farmers of India can do it well if they are provided support from the government. "The first thing is that governments will have to create a system that will help farmers to sell their crop. So that more farmers are inspired to get into the field. Another point is the technical support – from initial days to polyhouses to cold storage to marketing. If there is a positive approach from the government, the farmers will be greatly benefitted," he said. But at the same time, he cautions about the unnecessary interference by government agencies, saying, "For example, if government officers start dictating everything then farmers won't continue. They will shift to traditional farming. So, the government should enable the farmers and not dictate."

Kale is the first farmer in India to start cultivation of Red and Yellow Capsicum and sell it in the market. "That was in the 1990s. At that time, we used to import these things. We must aim to export vegetables in the international market. That is only possible if farmers and governments plan well," he concludes.