Gujarati engineer quits IT job, creates farming success story
Surat, May 27
In an inspiring example of reverse migration and rural entrepreneurship, a young engineer from Gujarat's Surat district left his high-paying IT job in Bengaluru to build a successful career in natural farming.
Vikas Gamit, a resident of Uteva village, returned to his native place in 2019 after becoming concerned about the harmful effects of chemical farming and unhealthy food consumption. Today, his farming model is recognised as a successful blend of sustainability, innovation and profitability.
Speaking to ANI, Vikas Gamit said his decision was driven by a desire to promote healthy food and chemical-free agriculture.
"I decided that I myself would not eat poison, and I would not feed poison to others either. With that thought, I started natural farming in 2019, and I am continuing it till today. I have achieved very good success from it," he said.
After returning home, Vikas established a 'jungle model' natural farm where fruits, vegetables and multiple crops are cultivated without the use of chemicals. The farming model has helped reduce cultivation costs, improve soil health and ensure year-round agricultural production.
He said the Gujarat government also extended financial assistance for developing the project.
"The Gujarat government gave me a subsidy of ₹18,500 to create this jungle model and also provided assistance for seeds. For the godown, the government provided a subsidy of ₹30,000, while for the poly-house, I received a subsidy of ₹2,70,000," he said.
Apart from farming, Vikas also developed a dairy unit with Gir cows, using the milk to produce branded desi ghee as an additional source of income. According to him, his annual earnings have now crossed ₹10 lakhs, exceeding the salary he earned during his corporate career.
Nitin Gamit, Joint Director of the Gujarat Prakrutik Krushi Vikas Board, said Vikas has emerged as a role model for young farmers.
"Vikas Gamit is not only cultivating vegetables but also growing millets through a progressive natural farming model. An engineer by qualification, he has embraced natural farming and emerged as an inspiration for youth and farmers across the district," he told ANI.
Vikas Gamit has also been honoured by the South Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry as a Young Progressive Farmer. His success story is encouraging many young people to view farming as a modern, profitable and technology-driven profession focused on sustainability and health.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Finally some positive news about youth returning to their roots. My chacha in UP tried organic farming but gave up after two years due to middlemen eating all profits. Hope Vikas's model can be replicated. The 'jungle model' concept - growing multiple crops together - that's real innovation! 👍
As someone who worked in Indian agri-trade for 5 years, stories like Vikas's are rare but precious. The real challenge is scaling up - most farmers don't have IT salaries to fall back on. The government should focus more on market linkage infrastructure. Still, hats off to this Gurjar bhai for showing the path! 🙏
Beautiful! 'I will not eat poison nor feed poison to others' - that thought process needs to go viral. We're seeing so many health issues from chemical-laden food. But I wish the article mentioned his marketing strategy - desi ghee branding is smart but distribution matters. Would love to try his products! 😊
Kriti is right but let's not underestimate the mental shift needed. My cousin from NIT quit his London job to farm in Punjab - initial 3 years were brutal with family pressure and social stigma. Vikas bhai's success might inspire more youth, but we need support systems for those first difficult years. Government subsidy amounts seem inadequate for real infrastructure needs.
This is fascinating! Coming from a country where 'agritech' means AI-driven drones, it's refreshing to see traditional wisdom + modern thinking. The Gir cow dairy integration is brilliant - ghee
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