Mumbai man's failed strawberry crop grows into Rs 44 lakh farm business

In 2016, Ketan Sodha purchased 5,000 strawberry plants from a local farmer in Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra, without any prior farming experience. His initial attempt at cultivation did not yield the desired results, but he persisted, increasing the number of plants to 10,000 the following year and continuing to learn about strawberry farming.

Over the past decade, Sodha's venture, Berry Fresh Agrotech LLP, has expanded into a soilless strawberry farm capable of supporting 19,500 plants. The farm has reportedly produced around 8,000 kilograms of strawberries, generating approximately ₹44 lakh in sales.

Sodha's journey into farming began after demonetisation disrupted his land business, prompting him to explore new opportunities. A fourth-generation Mumbaikar, he first became interested in strawberries around 2012-13, while frequently traveling through the Mahabaleshwar region for work. His first year of farming was unsuccessful, but his second attempt proved fruitful.

By 2019, he was cultivating strawberries on nine acres in partnership with other growers, and by 2020-21, his operations had grown to nearly 40 acres across three locations.

However, unpredictable weather remained a significant challenge for Sodha's strawberry cultivation. Unseasonal rain could set back the crop by 15 to 20 days, occurring during the plants' peak production period. Additionally, the natural limitations of conventional cultivation, such as heat and rainfall during the summer and monsoon seasons, posed further obstacles.

In response to these challenges, Sodha began researching soilless cultivation methods in 2021-22, visiting countries like Italy, Spain, Egypt, and Turkey to learn from nursery owners and hydroponic growers. He also consulted experts from Israel, the UK, New Zealand, Australia, and the US, ultimately concluding that adapting foreign farming methods to India's conditions would require significant changes.