From Kerala fields to Dubai markets: The success story of a vegetable farmer

Bananas are priced at 14 dirhams per kg, while jackfruit costs 14 dirhams per kg. Lentils are available for 15 dirhams, and bitter gourd is similarly priced at 15 dirhams. It is interesting to learn about the cost of a kilogram of organic vegetables from Bijesh Krishna's farm. The price of 15 dirhams translates to approximately Rs 300-350. This is attributed to the fact that the vegetables cultivated on the 10-acre farm in Mala are airlifted to an organic store in Dubai for sale. Given that these vegetables are produced entirely through organic methods, there is a significant demand for them in that market.

Bijesh Krishna, originally from Kottavathil in Mala, had spent a decade working as an accountant in Dubai. After leaving his job there, he returned to his hometown with aspirations of establishing a livelihood locally. He opted to pursue farming, leasing two acres of land to cultivate a variety of vegetables. He committed completely to organic vegetables but the production costs were really high. He also faced issues in marketing his products and consequently, he became frustrated. He decided to find a new market for his produce when he could not even get payment for his labour.

Bijesh knew that organic vegetables always had a demand among overseas Malayalis. So he reached out to his friends in Dubai and around 15 people came forward to buy his vegetables regularly. Thus he shipped the organic vegetables from his farm in Mala to Dubai for the first time. This was the beginning. Later, he coordinated with more people in Dubai through a WhatsApp group and started delivering vegetables there. With increasing demand, he collaborated with his friend Praveen, who is also a native of Kottavathil in Mala, and started an organic store in Dubai called Nature Beats. Some of the customers also helped in Dubai to set up this shop. Later, they leased more land and further expanded their farming operations.

Vegetables are harvested from the farm in Mala and packed on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays before being transported to Dubai by air. The packing operation is conducted at Bijesh's residence, where women from nearby houses are employed to assist in the process. Each package contains half a kilogram of vegetables. To ensure freshness, no preservatives are used, allowing for the vegetables to be collected from the farm and delivered to the homes of those in need in Dubai within a 24-hour timeframe. Customers can purchase vegetables either online via WhatsApp or by visiting the physical store in Dubai.

Completely organic farming
Organic farming is not just a label; Bijesh's approach to agriculture is completely organic. He refrains from using any chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Instead, he uses organic pesticides sourced from a private company. While chemical pesticides are priced at Rs. 350, organic pesticides are purchased at Rs. 3,500 and sprayed in the fields. Dung and chicken manure are collected locally for fertilization. A diverse range of vegetables is cultivated, including winter varieties such as cabbage and cauliflower, which are harvested and packaged from an organic farm located in Wayanad. The farm employs six permanent workers, and Bijesh's wife, Binitha, along with their sons, Abhinav and Anirudh, also contribute to the farming and packaging processes.

"We have been buying vegetables from Nature Beats for the past eight years. The reason for that is the decision to have good food. It felt better to switch to organic produce now than to get sick later by eating pesticide-laced vegetables. We buy vegetables and fruits available every week from this shop," says Jismi Shahnavas, owner of Golden Fork Restaurant in Dubai.

The fact remains that organic farming does not produce yields comparable to those achieved through conventional methods that use chemical fertilizers. The damage is approximately 25 percent. However, if a favourable market is accessible, organic farming can be more advantageous. The cost to produce and transport a kilogram of vegetables to Dubai is Rs 100. The project's success can be attributed to the existing demand in that market. In our own country, regardless of the claims of organic quality, a price of Rs 100 for a kilogram of okra is unlikely to attract buyers. The organic approach was initially adopted to cultivate non-toxic vegetables, but when local demand diminished, we shifted our focus to exporting to Dubai. There is profit in farming only if you market the vegetables yourself, without intermediaries, says Bijesh Krishna.
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