“Farming may not fulfill all your wants, but it will fulfill all your needs.”
These are the words of Divakar Channappa, an ex-ISRO scientist who gave up city comforts to chase an unconventional dream—growing organic dates in Karnataka, a crop usually seen in desert nations.
Back to the Roots
Born into a farming family in Begur, Karnataka, Divakar’s life took a turn when Bangalore’s urban sprawl consumed his village. His father, determined to give his children a better future, moved them away from farming and into the city for education.
Divakar did well—he worked as a project scientist at ISRO and taught at Tumkuru University. But everything changed in 2009 when his father had a stroke. Divakar returned home to care for him, and in that moment, he rediscovered his rural roots.
Inspiration from a Japanese Farmer
Reading “One Straw Revolution” by Masanobu Fukuoka, a Japanese natural farming pioneer, inspired Divakar to explore agriculture seriously. Despite initial skepticism from his family and society, he began small—growing ragi, tur dal, and corn.
The returns were modest. “I earned ₹33,000 on an investment of ₹22,000. It wasn’t sustainable,” he recalls.
A Desert Crop in the Deccan?
Then came a bold idea—date farming. After learning from a Tamil Nadu farmer, Divakar decided to grow this desert fruit in Karnataka. “People mocked me. Some asked if I was building a desert,” he laughs.
He invested ₹4.5 lakh to buy 150 saplings at ₹3,000 each. The land was prepared with river sand, neem cake, castor cake, vermicompost, and panchgavya. And then, he waited.
The Reward After Patience
It took four and a half years to see the first flowers bloom. Today, Divakar harvests five tonnes of organic dates from 2.5 acres, selling them at ₹375/kg and earning ₹6 lakh per acre, totaling over ₹15 lakh/year.
Leading the Way in Organic Farming
Using only cow dung, urine, and natural inputs, Divakar became South India’s first organic date farmer. His success earned media attention—and a visit from his skeptical father-in-law.
But the road wasn’t easy. “For the first four yields, I couldn’t even recover my costs. Only in the last three years have I been able to sustain my family through farming,” he says.
More Than Money: A Life of Meaning
Despite his achievements at ISRO, Divakar finds peace in his current life. “Farming isn’t a shortcut to riches. It’s hard, slow, and uncertain—but deeply fulfilling,” he says.
Now, many urbanites seek his guidance. His advice? “Farming isn’t real estate. You may not double your money quickly. But you’ll grow—personally, spiritually, and if patient, financially.”
Divakar Channappa’s story is a powerful reminder that with vision, patience, and hard work, even the unlikeliest dreams—like growing dates in non-desert India—can come true.
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