Ashok Kumawat, a resident of Samokhi village in Beawar district of Rajasthan, has set a new example in the field of agriculture. Born on July 16, 1997, Ashok moved beyond traditional farming to start his own startup in the field of food processing. He processed traditional Indian products like amla and millet to create value-added products like fruit-based sweets, millet cookies and millet crunchy sticks.
Ashok aims to ensure fair prices to farmers for their produce and provide employment opportunities to rural women. His efforts not only strengthened his own financial condition but also set an example for the society.
Start of Food Processing
Ashok took inspiration to enter the field of food processing from his father, who is a farmer himself. He observed that the amla and millet produced in his village and surrounding areas were not being used properly. Due to this, farmers were not able to get a fair price and rural women did not have employment opportunities.
Understanding this problem, Ashok started working on food processing in 2020. He increased the market value of traditional crops by converting them into new products.
Main products:
1. Amla-based sweets: Healthy and delicious.
2. Millet cookies: Nutritious and gluten-free.
3. Millet crunchy sticks: Popular among children and youth.
Employment opportunities for women
Ashok’s startup is not only beneficial for farmers, but it is also a big source of employment for rural women. His startup employs 20-25 women, who contribute to the processing, packaging and other tasks of the products.
Ashok explains, “Rural women in Rajasthan lack skills, but they are hardworking. We made them a part of our startup by giving them the necessary training. This increased their income and also their confidence.”
Partnership with farmers
Another important aspect of Ashok’s startup is his partnership with farmers.
– Direct purchase: Ashok buys directly from farmers, eliminating the role of middlemen.
– Fair price: Farmers get a fair price for their produce.
– Technical support: Farmers are provided with information on better production techniques.
Today, Ashok has more than 50 farmers working with him, and he aims to reach 100 in the next few years.
Marketing strategy
Ashok uses two main channels to market his products:
1. Distributor model: Ensuring availability of products in local and regional markets.
2. Online sales: Reaching out to customers through his website and other e-commerce platforms.
Complete information about his products is available on his website. He also makes customers aware about the quality of the products and the benefits of using them.
Financial status and income
The annual income of Ashok’s startup is between Rs 1-10 lakh.
Economic model:
– Production cost: Processing and packaging of products.
– Income from sales: Sale of products in local and online markets.
He plans to expand his startup and double his income in the coming years.
Benefit from government schemes
Although Ashok has not yet taken direct benefit of any government scheme, he plans to get financial assistance under schemes related to food processing and agriculture.
He said that if he gets support from the government, he will be able to expand his startup and add more farmers and women.
Challenges and solutions
Like every startup, Ashok also faced many challenges, such as:
1. Initial capital: Lack of funds to start a startup.
2. Marketing: Establishing products in the market.
3. Customer awareness: Explaining the benefits of products to customers.
By solving these problems, Ashok gradually gave stability to his startup.
Future plans
Ashok dreams of taking his startup to the national and international level.
– Plans:
– Increasing the number of farmers.
– Employing more women.
– Bringing new products based on millets and amla.
– Expanding his products to foreign countries.
Conclusion
Ashok Kumawat’s story shows that with the right approach and hard work, a big change can be brought in farming and food processing.
His message is: “Farming is not limited to growing products only. It can be made profitable by linking it with processing and marketing. My dream is to make farmers and rural women self-reliant and bring a positive change in their lives.”
Ashok Kumawat’s hard work and innovation have made him not only a successful entrepreneur but also a medium of change in the society. His story is an inspiration for every person who wants to do something new in the agriculture sector.
Contact us: If farmers want to share information or experiences related to farming with us, then they can do this by calling us on the phone number 9599273766 or by writing an email to [email protected] or by sending your recording. Through Kisan of India, we will convey your message to the people, because we believe that if the farmers are advanced then the country is happy.