Samir Dombe, a mechanical engineer from Daund near Pune, Maharashtra, made a life-altering decision to quit his well-paying job, where he earned Rs 40,000 a month. He chose to dive into the world of farming, defying societal expectations and stepping out of his comfort zone. His decision was met with opposition from family, friends, and society, all of whom questioned his choice. However, today, Samir has built a thriving fig farming business generating an annual turnover of Rs 1.5 crore, and he is now inspiring others to take up agriculture. Here’s his inspiring story.

Leaving the engineering job

When Samir began discussing his plans to leave his engineering job and venture into farming, his parents were deeply concerned about the challenges he would face. They feared that, despite being a “well-salaried young man,” if he gave up his job, he would struggle to secure respectable marriage proposals and lose his standing in society. His friends, too, believed Samir was making a grave mistake. However, Samir was resolute in his decision, determined to achieve remarkable success by applying modern methods to traditional farming.

Fig farming

Samir's family had been involved in fig cultivation for generations, and he inherited the tried and true ways of doing things in agriculture. However, traditional methods of farming made things tough for Samir and, hence, confining them to the local market itself. Samir vowed to change that. He began to grow figs at only 2.5 acres of land but changed the game on marketing. With innovation on his side, he introduced improved packaging and branding for the figs and distinguished his produce in the market.

Pavitrak

A friend of Samir suggested that instead of selling figs in bulk, they should be packed in one-kilogram packages and delivered to supermarkets. This idea led to the creation of his brand, “Pavitrak.” When Samir received a positive response from customers, he quickly secured agreements with several supermarket chains. Before long, his figs were being distributed to major cities like Pune, Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru.

Adding a personal contact number on the fig packets was a really smart idea on Samir's part. The customers started ordering and Samir began receiving bulk orders. Samir adopted an order-fulfilment strategy in small groups that permitted both production and delivery to keep up with the boom in orders. Such an approach enabled his business to consolidate its operations, ensuring a regular uninterrupted rise in profits.

Farming environment

Daund is a hilly region where water seeps into the ground quickly, and evaporation is minimal. Additionally, being slightly away from the highway, the area experiences less pollution, and the quality of water is superior. These factors proved to be highly advantageous for fig cultivation. Samir recognised this opportunity at the right moment and channelled all his energy into expanding his fig farming business.

Expanding the business

While most businesses were stalled during the lockdown, Samir adapted by continuing to sell online. He began taking orders through WhatsApp, allowing customers to conveniently order fresh figs from home. Even though supermarkets were closed, he earned Rs 13 lakh during this period. Moreover, his direct contact with customers opened doors to new markets, further expanding his reach.

Gradually, Samir expanded his land from 2.5 acres to 5 acres and established a food processing unit. This allowed him to diversify his offerings, and he successfully launched fig jams and other products under the “Pavitrak” brand. Today, these products are also available online, which has become a significant source of income for him.