Success Story: This farmer did business worth crores by cultivating millet
Success Story: Biradhar Veer Shetty’s transformation from a poor farmer’s son in Gangapur village, Telangana, to a prosperous businessman with an annual revenue of over Rs 1 crore is evidence of his tenacity and foresight. Shetty, who began with little funding, transformed millet cultivation and processing, empowering thousands of farmers and promoting environmentally friendly farming methods.
His tale of perseverance, ingenuity, and hard work shows how a desire for change can improve people’s lives and communities.
Lowly Origins and Initial Difficulties
Shetty came from a farming family in Gangapur village and worked as a small-time farmer. He was limited to studying for the ninth grade. He left home to work as a truck helper since there were no schools in the area. He then started driving trucks around the United States. At the time, he had eleven acres of property.
Shetty has always wanted to try something new. He has always benefited from exposure from his profession as a driver at Ramoji Film City and small-scale artistic endeavors, but it was as an artist at ICRISAT, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, that his life changed.
The Road to Millet Farming for Shetty
Shetty began working at ICRISAT in 2006 as a general assistant and driver. He collaborated closely with distinguished scientists throughout his time there and gained knowledge about farming methods meant to enhance the quality of life for farmers. A pivotal moment occurred in 2009 while working on a sorghum project in Beed, Maharashtra. He became interested in millet growing and value addition after seeing poverty and facing food difficulties.
In 2009, with the help of his mentors and a modest Rs 20,000 investment, Shetty started the first millet roti store in Hyderabad. His company expanded quickly as his millet rotis gained popularity. He created novel millet products with extended shelf life for customers who are health-conscious by using the expertise he gained from ICRISAT.
Growth of the Company
Bhavani Foods, SS Agro Foods, and the Swavanshakti Agri Foundation are a few of the well-known businesses that Shetty’s entrepreneurial endeavors have produced. His business endeavors employ 40 individuals and span eight Indian states. A water plant, biomass pellet units, multi-pulse units, and millet processing plants generate up to Rs 1 crore in revenue annually.
Using the Swavanshakti Agri Foundation to Empower Farmers
To aid farmers, Shetty founded the Swavanshakti Agri Foundation in 2061. The foundation is now pursuing millet cultivation and value addition in partnership with the Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR) and other governmental agencies. Shetty has helped hundreds of farmers become very profitable by teaching them extremely sustainable farming methods.
Shetty has established farmer collectives and self-help organizations to enable farmers and women to prepare and sell their goods. This strategy highlights the benefit of adding value and has almost quadrupled the revenues of many farmers.
New Products and Market Development
Under the Millovit brand, Shetty’s enterprises produce a range of millet-based goods, including cookies, snacks, multigrain ladoos, and rotis. Five stores in Delhi, Hyderabad, Warangal, Mehboobnagar, and Sadashivpeth sell these goods. By giving raw material greater value, he guarantees farmers make more money and have access to larger markets.
Honors and Acknowledgments
Shetty has received several honors, such as the Best Millet Misharayya Award from IIMR and the Best Farmer Award from the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation. Farmers all throughout India looked up to Shetty as a fantastic role model because of her creative approaches and sustainability-focused attitude.
Growth in Revenue and Prospects
Shetty is now in charge of the company, which has 30 acres of land and an annual revenue of Rs 1 crore more. It just demonstrates the value addition and millet farming. By expanding his business into the agricultural sector, Shetty hopes to help one lakh farmers and create 200 jobs.
A Word of Encouragement for Other Farmers
Shetty’s story serves as a potent illustration of how business and creativity can help farmers change their lives. He emphasizes the significance of value creation, sustainable methods, and direct marketing. Farmers may attain financial stability and prosper in their enterprises by accepting responsibility for their goods and using contemporary methods.
