So what do you do, when you pass out from an IIM? Companies are chasing you to join them in the management section? Offers are too many. The remuneration packages are obscene.
332 other students at IIM Bangalore chose safe and lucrative path to corporate glory. Certain Mr. Ashutosh Sawant opted to start a venture along with farmers in his hometown Kadegoan in Karad, Maharashtra.
Of late it has almost become a trend to be indifferent and thoughtless about anything that has to do with rural folks, farmers or rural India (real Bharat) itself. What Mr. Sawant has done is radically different and very rare. It is a welcome relief, nonetheless. At least some one is doing something to upgrade the farmers in his vicinity.
It takes lots of guts to say no to cushy and high-paying jobs.
We have robust production of fruits and vegetables. But the amount of waste is outrageously high. Technical know-how like drip irrigation and correct use of chemicals are two areas with huge scope for improvement.
Mr. Sawant would work with farmers, process and export frozen fruits like alphonso mangoes, frozen strawberry, pomegranate arils, frozen vegetables and cauliflower florets.
This should make farmers rich, happy and satisfied, at least in his village.
What could be the motive? I think some reality check would help.
India produces 80% of world's pomegranates. Shockingly we process and export just 2%. What’s more? The total value addition and processing of fruits and vegetables in India is around 4%. Global standard of processing is 45%-50% of the total production. We lag behind.
Sure, this would change over the years.
