Key Concepts
- अन्नदाता (Annadata): Farmers as providers of food.
- Perishable Material: Food items that spoil quickly.
- Demand and Supply: Economic principle affecting crop prices.
- Food Safety and Quality Management: Ensuring food meets safety and quality standards.
- Leucin Issue: A past incident of rejection of Indian exports due to quality issues.
- Shelf Life: The duration for which a product remains usable.
- Processing Industry: Converting raw agricultural products into consumable forms.
- अतिथि देवो भव (Atithi Devo Bhava): The concept of treating guests as God.
- वसुदेव कुटुंबकम (Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam): The world is one family.
Early Life and Formative Questions
Laxman Sawalkar begins by explaining why farmers are called "Annadata" in India. He recounts his childhood in a small village in Maharashtra, which was affected by the 1993 earthquake. His father was a farmer, and his mother sold vegetables daily. He was troubled by the question of why perishable materials needed to be sold on the same day. He also recalls an incident where he questioned why some mangoes turned black during the अचार (pickle) making process, leading him to ponder the issue of food wastage. These questions fueled his curiosity and shaped his future path.
Education and Practical Experience
Laxman attended Navodaya Vidyalaya in Tuljapur for boarding school. He felt a strong connection to agriculture, crop production, and plant genetics. He pursued a degree in agriculture from Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya in Raipur. During his studies, he gained practical experience by working with farmers, learning about pesticides, fertilizers, and bio-inputs. He also experimented with a small-scale project using brick walls and drip irrigation to create a temperature-controlled environment for growing crops.
The Problem of Seasonal Crops
Laxman highlights the issue of seasonal crops and the fluctuations in their prices. He uses the example of tomatoes, where prices are high at the beginning and end of the season but plummet during peak production. This problem motivated him to seek solutions for preserving and extending the shelf life of agricultural products.
Studying Abroad and the Turning Point
After graduation, Laxman pursued a Master's degree in Food Safety and Quality Management in London. He received a scholarship from the Indian government. However, he faced financial challenges in getting to London. Villagers and friends contributed to cover his travel expenses and buy him a blazer. He recounts the emotional experience of being the first person from his village to study abroad and the hopes that his community placed on him. He describes the scene of villagers accompanying him to the Mumbai airport in a "temo" (a local transport vehicle) and walking the last kilometer to the airport gate.
Returning to India and Initial Failures
Despite securing a well-paying job in London, Laxman returned to India, driven by the expectations of his community and the desire to make a difference in agriculture. He experimented with various projects in his village, but none were initially successful. To support himself, he started working in the export business.
The Leucin Issue and a Breakthrough
Laxman recalls the Leucin issue in 2010, where thousands of containers of Indian produce were rejected in Europe due to quality problems. This incident motivated him to address the quality concerns in Indian exports. In 2012, he initiated a project involving 100 farmers, aiming to export 100 containers of produce to Europe without any rejections. After a year of dedicated work, the project was a success, marking a significant "wow" moment in his life.
Building an Export Business
Following the success of the 100-container project, Laxman and his colleagues established a larger export house in 2015-16. The business expanded to include various crops like grapes, bananas, pomegranates, mangoes, onions, and tomatoes.
The Pandemic and a New Challenge
The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 brought new challenges. The lockdown coincided with the peak harvest season for grapes, leaving farmers with unsold produce. Laxman's partners left the company due to the uncertainty. Inspired by the Bhagavad Gita, where Krishna advises Arjuna to fight for truth and dharma, Laxman started a new company to help the farmers. He obtained permission from government officials to transport agricultural produce and exported the crops to nearby markets. In the first year of the pandemic, his company achieved a turnover of 50 crore rupees, marking his second major "wow" moment.
Expanding into Processing and Future Vision
Laxman's initial concern about perishable goods led him to venture into the processing industry. He now exports processed agricultural products with a shelf life of 5-6 years. His network has grown to include 3000-4000 farmers, 2000 workers, and over 100 team members. He emphasizes that a genuine "why" can lead to a "wow" moment without excessive effort.
Conclusion
Laxman concludes by emphasizing the importance of sharing "wow" moments with those who supported the "why" journey. He connects his work to the Indian tradition of "Atithi Devo Bhava," where guests are treated as God, and extends this concept to his international customers. He also invokes the principle of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam," highlighting the interconnectedness of the world. He encourages others to create "wow" moments that inspire future generations.
Notable Quotes
- "हे पांडुरंगा आज का माल आज विकला गला प व्हाई दिस सो?" (Oh Panduranga, will today's goods be sold today or not? Why is this so?)
- "सब लोगों के पड़ते हैं। अपने भी पड़ गए आम काले।" (Everyone's mangoes turn black. Ours also turned black.)
- "युद्ध आपको आपके लिए नहीं करना है। युद्ध आपको सत्य के लिए करना है और धर्म के लिए करना है।" (You don't have to fight for yourself. You have to fight for truth and dharma.)
- "अतिथि देवो भव" (Atithi Devo Bhava - The guest is equivalent to God)
- "वसुदेव कुटुंबकम" (Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam - The world is one family)
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