Shrikant Mahadev Ghorpade moves to Pune to study for competitive exams but consistently fails the interview stage. Eventually, they pivot towards farming and strive to modernize their family farm, serving as a successful example of how a farmer can also excel as an entrepreneur.
Shrikant’s family has a tradition of record-breaking production, including ginger and turmeric. They cultivated medicinal herbs and spices and became suppliers of raw materials to the Ayurvedic medicine industry. Today, their products are supplied to many clinics, dispensaries, and manufacturing companies across India.
After failing competitive exams, Shrikant, born in Nisarale village of Satara, decided to enter the agricultural supplement business. His family had a successful farming business with high crop yields in sugarcane, ginger, and onion. Growing up, Shrikant observed farming at home and had dreams of becoming a first-class officer. He moved to Pune for further education, studying hard but narrowly missing the First Division Officer position multiple times. Undeterred, Srikant developed a “Plan B” and started focusing on competitive exams, gaining broader knowledge and expertise in specific subjects. Eventually, he shifted his focus to agriculture and pursued post-graduation in Business Management to enter the agricultural supplement business.
Shrikant and his cousin, Dr. Shridhar Pawar, realized that there was an issue with the raw material of medicinal medicines, prompting them to venture into the cultivation of medicinal herbs. They experimented with planting plants such as asparagus, ashwagandha, and stevia. This led them to establish a company called ‘Saras Entrepreneurs’ for processing medicinal herbs and spice plants. Shrikant furthered his knowledge by going on study tours to various cities in India known for effective cultivation of medicinal plants. With the help of a government scheme, Shrikant obtained a loan and subsidy to set up a fully equipped food factory and dehydration chamber. They processed large quantities of asparagus and created Shatavari Kalp and other health supplements. Their products gained popularity among Ayurvedic doctors and clinics, as well as animal feed manufacturing companies. Shrikant expanded his business through social media platforms and online marketplaces, leading to a 25% increase in sales. The business has received awards and recognition from both government and non-government organizations, including an honor from the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Shrikant is currently working as an expert guide in agricultural processes for the Satara Agriculture Department. His farming venture has transformed into successful entrepreneurship, making him an ideal farmer and entrepreneur.