Akarshak Vertical Farms, established in 2017 by Noida-based techie-turned-farmer Ramesh Gera, offers training in various agricultural techniques.Born into an agricultural family in a village in Haryana, Ramesh Gera spent his after-school hours on his father’s farm, nurturing an early interest in farming. One day, when his father asked what he wanted to become, Ramesh expressed his desire to be a farmer.”I want you to pursue a technical career because farming has no potential. I’ve done this all my life and know how tough it is to even pay your school fees,” Ramesh’s father told him.Ramesh pursued engineering and secured a good job at an MNC. Yet, his curiosity about the plight of Indian farmers never waned. His job provided opportunities for extensive international travel, and he made it a point to meet farmers in countries like the USA, South Africa, and others whenever possible.He left his corporate job after 35 years to pursue agriculture. Wife’s death led him to stay in India, allowing him to experiment with different farming methods he had observed abroad.In 2017, Akarshak Hydroponics was born, named after his son Akarshak Gera, and later rebranded to Akarshak Vertical Farms. The agri-tech startup provides training to farmers and aspiring farmers on various technical farming. At home, he began experimenting with small hydroponic setups, a method of growing plants without soil. “Having little prior experience in farming, I had to invest significantly in trial and error. Although I faced more failures than successes, my desire to drive change kept me persevering,” he told Startup Pedia.At Akarshak Vertical Farms, you can learn about hydroponics, microgreens, and indoor saffron cultivation. The Hydroponics course costs ₹12,000 and spans 1.5 months, while the Microgreens course is priced at ₹6,000 and can be completed in 10 days. Also, Ramesh offers significant discounts and free training based on individual situations. He is also passionate about empowering farmers and aims to make knowledge accessible to help them thrive.The agri-tech startup has been training farmers and aspiring farmers for two years. So far, the 58-year-old entrepreneur has trained around 1200 candidates, mostly from India but also from foreign countries.Over the past 13-14 months, he has successfully accumulated profits of approximately Rs 85-86 lakhs. “I am eyeing for more than Rs 10 lakh per month revenue..,” Ramesh added.Utilising his base in Chandigarh-Panchkula, he plans to empower farmers in Haryana and Punjab through in-depth programs, and Village Workshops.He envisions the agri-tech startup as more than just a business; it’s a movement, and he is ready to lead the charge!Website:
- 10 lessons from the book “The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi, Fumitake Koga
- School Edu Deptt announces winter vacation in phased manner from Dec-10
- JKUM president and Former MLA Ganderbal Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar calls on Union Minister for Education Shri Dharmendra Pradhan
- Baramulla grower cultivates saffron for first time in north Kashmir
- Security Forces given free hand to act against culprits of Ganderbal attack: LG Manoj Sinha
Leave a Reply