India Farmer: The Rise of Harish Dhakad — From ₹5,000 to ₹25 Lakh a Year with Organic Farming

Location: Sehore District, Madhya Pradesh, India

Farmer Name: Harish Dhakad

Background: 10th pass, traditional farming family

Specialization: Organic vegetable farming and polyhouse cultivation

The Journey Begins

Harish Dhakad started farming at a young age, helping his father on their 3-acre ancestral land. For years, they followed traditional methods, growing wheat and soybean. But the returns were meager—barely ₹5,000 a month. Debt was rising, and Harish was about to quit farming.

But everything changed in 2014 when he attended a government-organized Krishi Mela (farmers’ fair) in Bhopal. There, he learned about organic farming, drip irrigation, and polyhouse cultivation.

Switching to Organic & Smart Farming

Inspired and motivated, Harish took the risk of converting 1 acre of land into fully organic. He started growing high-value vegetables like:

Capsicum (Shimla Mirch)

Cucumber (Kheera)

Tomatoes

Spinach and fenugreek

He used vermicompost, neem oil, and bio-fertilizers. He also installed drip irrigation using a government subsidy (80% funding). This saved water and increased productivity.

Polyhouse Revolution

In 2016, Harish invested in a polyhouse structure (with 90% government subsidy), where he began cultivating exotic vegetables like colored capsicum, lettuce, and broccoli — high demand in metro cities and hotels.

He started direct supply to Indore and Bhopal hotels, cutting out middlemen.

Income & Expansion

Initial Income (2013): ₹5,000/month

After Organic Farming (2015): ₹40,000/month

After Polyhouse Setup (2017): ₹1.2 lakh/month

Current Annual Income (2024): ₹25–30 Lakh

Harish now owns 2 polyhouses, trains other farmers, and sells organic manure under his own label “Dhakad Organics.”

Achievements

Awarded Krishi Bhushan by MP Government

Invited to share experience at National Organic Farming Summit

Over 600 farmers trained personally by him

Runs a YouTube channel to teach organic methods

Harish’s Message

Farming is not backward. It’s the future if done smartly. We don’t need chemical shortcuts—we need organic patience

Key Takeaways

Aspect Details

Farm Size 3 acres (2 open, 1 polyhouse)
Monthly Earnings ₹1.5 to ₹2.5 lakh
Main Crops Exotic vegetables, leafy greens
Techniques Used Drip irrigation, organic inputs, polyhouse
Sales Channels Direct hotel supply, organic mandis
Challenges Pests, convincing family, market linkage
Support Received Govt subsidies, Krishi Vigyan Kendra help