Vikas Kumar showed farmers a new path through food processing 

Vikas Kumar, a resident of Devband village in Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh, has made a distinct identity for himself in the field of food processing. Born on 15 December 1972, Vikas not only made agriculture and food processing a part of his business, but also adopted it as a social responsibility. His story is an inspiration for those farmers who are striving to increase their income and bring positive change in the society.

Beginning in food processing

Vikas Kumar’s initial journey began as an ordinary farmer. Despite having less than 1 acre of land, he moved away from traditional methods of farming and turned to food processing.

Vikas explains:

“Farming is a lot of hard work, but farmers often get frustrated due to not getting the right market and price. I realized that if our crops are directly processed and go to the market, their price can increase manifold.”

He started preparing food products from local crops like wheat, gram and mustard. His processed products include flour, gram flour and mustard oil.

Advantages of food processing

1. Improved product quality:

The quality of the products was improved through processing.

2. High demand in the market:

The demand for processed products increased in the local markets, giving them a stable income.

3. New avenues for farmers:

Vikas inspired other farmers to take up food processing.

Social responsibility

Not looking at food processing as just a business, Vikas made it a social cause. He invested a part of the profit from the sale of his products in solving human problems in rural areas.

Vikas says:

“I observed that due to lack of awareness in villages, farmers were not able to use their products properly. My aim was to guide them and improve their lives.”

He started training programmes for small farmers and women self-help groups, where they were taught processing techniques and marketing tricks.

Benefits of Government Schemes

Vikas also took advantage of government schemes to make his journey easier.

1. Mudra Loan Scheme:

Under this scheme, he received financial assistance for his processing unit.

2. Agro-based schemes:

He received subsidy to buy equipment related to food processing.

Awards and Honours

Vikas’ efforts were appreciated at the district and mandal level.

• He has won first place many times in district and mandal level competitions.

• He was felicitated by the local administration for his innovation and community contribution.

Success in the Market

Vikas’ products are quite popular in the local markets and the surrounding areas of Saharanpur district.

He explains:

“We have benefited greatly by working with the right price and keeping the customer’s needs in mind. People like our products because they are pure and excellent in quality.”

Inspiration for local farmers

Vikas has not only moved towards success himself, but he has also inspired other farmers to join food processing.

He taught farmers how to get maximum profit from their crops.

Future plans

Vikas dreams of taking his food processing business further.

He says:

“My aim is to take my products to the national level and involve more and more farmers.”

He plans to incorporate more modern technologies in his unit, which will improve the quality of the products and production capacity.

Conclusion

Vikas Kumar’s story shows that innovation and hard work can lead to success even with limited resources. His journey is an inspiration for farmers who want to move beyond traditional farming and explore new technologies and food processing.

The message of his story is clear:

“Food processing can not only increase the income of farmers, but also make them self-reliant and empowered.”

Vikas’ life proves that if farmers put in the right efforts, they can bring positive change not only for themselves but also for the society.