Inspiring story of successful agri startup by Chetan Kanjibhai Mendapara

Chetan Kanjibhai Mendapara, a resident of Jashapur Gir village in Gir Somnath district of Gujarat, has not only established himself through his agri startup but is also making a mark for Indian agricultural products in the global market. Born on 2 November 1998, Chetan became the director of ‘Hortica Foods LLP’ after completing MSc. Horticulture. He is a leader in global exports of fresh fruits, vegetables, spices, frozen food and grocery items.

Journey from agriculture to startup

Chetan’s career began with traditional farming. He says:

“I saw that farmers were not able to earn full profits from their hard work. My studies made me understand that this problem could be solved through value addition and export.”

With this thought, he founded ‘Hortica Foods LLP’. His startup not only brings Indian products to the international market, but also gets farmers better prices.

Expanding global exports

Chetan’s startup today exports fresh fruits and vegetables, such as mangoes, pomegranates, green chillies, and frozen foods, as well as Indian spices.

1. Product quality:

“Our products are known for purity and freshness. For export, we learnt to follow international standards and trained farmers in the same,” says Chetan.

2. Export markets:
His products are popular in several global markets, including the US, Europe, and the Gulf countries.

Honours and awards received

Chetan’s hard work and vision have earned him several awards.

• Best Startup Award: For innovation in the field of agriculture.

• Young Exporter Award: For outstanding performance among young entrepreneurs.

• Dhartiputra Award: For taking Indian agriculture to the global stage.

• Millionaire Farmer of India Award: For his income and contribution.

Chetan says,

“These awards motivate me to work harder and create new opportunities for farmers.”

Contribution to local farmers

Chetan’s startup is not only making profits for itself, but also providing new opportunities to local farmers.

• Value addition: Farmers get a fair price for their produce.

• Training: Farmers are trained to export standards.

• Innovation: Farmers are taught new techniques, such as organic farming and the use of modern irrigation systems.

Benefits of government schemes and his vision

Chetan has not yet taken direct benefit of any government scheme, but he believes that by making proper use of these schemes, farmers can make their business even more successful.

“I want the government to give more encouragement to startups and create schemes to connect farmers directly to the market,” he says.

Challenges and solutions

Exporting agricultural produce comes with many challenges, such as adhering to international standards, logistics, and maintaining quality. Chetan explains:

“Initially, we had issues with the quality of the products. But we involved experts for quality control and also taught the farmers.”

His team used modern techniques, which improved their logistics and storage capacity.

Economic impact

Chetan’s startup is today generating an annual revenue of Rs 21-30 lakh. This achievement not only reflects his hard work but also proves that farming can be made a profitable business with innovation and the right approach.

Future plans

Chetan dreams of taking his startup to greater heights. He wants to make Indian agricultural products reach more countries.

“My goal is to give India a strong identity in the global food market and make farmers self-reliant,” he says.

Apart from this, he plans to set up a cold storage and processing unit for farmers.

Conclusion

The story of Chetan Kanjibhai Mendapara is an inspiration to all those who want to take agriculture beyond a traditional business and integrate it with innovation and technology. His hard work, vision and dedication have benefited not only him but also the farmers associated with him.

His journey proves that efforts made in the right direction can not only lead to individual success but also bring positive change at the community and national level.