# Bihar Farmer Turns Tiny Plot into Green Venture with 17 Lemon Varieties Yielding Over ₹1 Lakh Annually

> Operating on just four kattha of land in Muzaffarpur, Shrikant Kushwaha built a thriving orchard of 80 trees from two saplings, producing fruits and grafted plants.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Success Stories · **Published:** 2026-10-11 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/success-stories/bihar-ke-kisana-ka-navachara-mahaja-4-kattha-jamina-para-ninbu-ki-17-kismen-ugakara-salana-1-lakha-se-adhika-ki-kamai-46198 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Muzaffarpur, Lemon Farming, Shrikant Kushwaha, Horticulture, Kushwaha Herbal Garden, Agri Innovation

A progressive farming initiative in Govindpur village, situated within the Saraiya block of Muzaffarpur district, demonstrates how high returns can be unlocked from very limited land. Local grower Shrikant Kushwaha has converted a compact plot of just 4 kattha into a productive orchard housing around 17 distinct varieties of lemons. By balancing fruit sales with a steady nursery business for grafted saplings, he generates a net annual profit exceeding 1 lakh rupees from this compact operation.

## Expanding from Two Saplings to an 80 Tree Orchard
The entire endeavor began in 2002 when Shrikant Kushwaha purchased just two lemon saplings for a modest cost of 50 rupees. Instead of investing heavily in commercial land or infrastructure, he focused on propagation, multiplying his stock directly from those initial plants. Over the years, the orchard has steadily grown and currently supports approximately 80 mature lemon trees. To keep diversifying, he tracks down promising varieties from different locations, creates grafted saplings, and sells these young plants to generate a valuable secondary stream of revenue.

## Varieties Ranging from Khatuwa to Hazara
The standout feature of this grove is the remarkable horticultural diversity concentrated in one place. Among the 17 cultivars grown on the plot are Khatuwa, Jamiri, Patu, Kajari, Banarasi Kajari, and Hazara. These lemons serve diverse culinary and commercial functions, being widely utilized for pickles, chutneys, and savory snacks. While certain lines see steady market interest across the entire calendar year, other cultivars witness dramatic surges in demand during festival seasons when specific culinary preparations peak.

## Culinary Uses and Pricing Structure Across Varieties
Different lemon types command varied prices based on their specific culinary qualities and seasonal availability. The Khatuwa lemon, for instance, is highly sought after for curing chili pickles and preparing traditional elephant foot yam chutney. Because it is rarely found in abundance across general markets, wholesale and retail demand spikes sharply during festivals. In contrast, the Jamiri lemon is preferred for manufacturing savory snacks, drawing bulk buyers who purchase large volumes.

This functional variety is directly reflected in the pricing per unit. Standard Jamiri lemons generally sell at roughly 5 rupees per piece. During festive periods, Khatuwa lemons are supplied to traders at approximately 10 rupees per piece. Meanwhile, select specialized cultivars grown in the orchard fetch premium rates ranging between 15 rupees and 20 rupees per piece.

## Kushwaha Herbal Garden and Regional Recognition
Beyond traditional farming circles, Shrikant Kushwaha has earned a distinct personal and commercial identity in the area. His enterprise is recognized as Kushwaha Herbal Garden, drawing interest from gardeners and commercial growers alike. In addition to horticulture, he performs stage magic shows, earning him the popular nickname 'Jadugar Ji' among community members. What started as an experiment with fifty rupees and two plants has evolved into an inspiring showcase of small scale orchard design and propagation technique.

## What this means for you
This development shows how smallholders can generate steady income by pairing high-value horticulture with nursery propagation on minimal land.

- **Across India:** Smallholder growers can diversify beyond standard field crops by cultivating specialized citrus varieties and selling grafted saplings. This provides a dependable year-round income stream from both fruit sales and planting material.
- **In Muzaffarpur:** Growers across Saraiya block and nearby villages gain immediate local access to 17 distinct lemon varieties and reliable planting stock. This eliminates the expense of sourcing rare saplings from outside the district and lowers setup costs.
- **For Household Consumers:** Residents seeking specific lemons for traditional pickles and chutneys can procure varieties like Khatuwa and Jamiri locally. This ensures ready access to culinary ingredients that are often hard to find in regular grocery markets.
- **For Small Food Processors:** Regional makers of savory snacks can secure fresh wholesale fruit directly from the grower at predictable unit prices. This shortens the supply chain and helps food businesses reduce procurement overhead.

## Why this happened
Low returns from conventional crops on small landholdings often drive growers to explore high-value horticulture and propagation. In this case, minimal initial risk and steady technical experimentation shaped the successful venture.

- **Low Initial Capital and Risk Control:** The project began in 2002 with just 50 rupees spent on two plants to avoid upfront financial strain. Multiplying stock gradually allowed the nursery to scale without external borrowing.
- **Cultivar Diversification and Grafting:** Rather than relying on common local varieties, different strains were collected from multiple areas and grafted on site. This created a dual revenue model encompassing both fresh fruit and ready-to-plant saplings.
- **Specialized Food Industry Demand:** Manufacturers of snacks, pickles, and chutneys require specific citrus profiles for distinct food preparations. Tapping directly into these specialized culinary niches enabled premium unit pricing between 10 and 20 rupees per piece.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Where does Shrikant Kushwaha reside?
He is a resident of Govindpur village located in the Saraiya block of Muzaffarpur district, Bihar.

### 2. When did he start lemon cultivation and with what initial expense?
He started in the year 2002 by purchasing two lemon saplings for just 50 rupees.

### 3. How much land does the orchard occupy, and how many trees are there currently?
His orchard covers 4 kattha of land and currently contains approximately 80 lemon trees.

### 4. How many varieties of lemons are cultivated in his orchard?
Around 17 varieties are cultivated, including Khatuwa, Jamiri, Patu, Kajari, Banarasi Kajari, and Hazara.

### 5. What is his annual net earnings from lemon cultivation and nursery sales?
He earns a net annual profit exceeding 1 lakh rupees from selling fruits and grafted saplings.

### 6. What are the primary uses of Khatuwa and Jamiri lemons?
Khatuwa lemons are used for chili pickles and elephant foot yam chutney, while Jamiri lemons are used in savory snack preparation.

### 7. What prices do the different lemon varieties fetch?
Jamiri sells at about 5 rupees per piece, Khatuwa at roughly 10 rupees during festivals, and select varieties fetch 15 to 20 rupees per piece.

### 8. By what names is Shrikant Kushwaha known locally?
His grove is named Kushwaha Herbal Garden, and he is popularly called 'Jadugar Ji' due to his performances as a stage magician.

## Inspiration & Lessons
This journey illustrates how patience, skill development, and resourceful planning can create a viable enterprise out of minimal assets.

- **Starting Small with Available Means:** Rather than waiting for substantial capital, the grower began with just fifty rupees and two young plants. This demonstrates that meaningful ventures can be launched through modest, calculated first steps.
- **Adding Value Through Technical Skill:** By learning grafting rather than selling only harvested fruit, he unlocked a secondary income stream through nursery saplings. Developing specialized practical skills consistently expands earning potential.
- **Aligning Production with Market Gaps:** Selecting cultivars suited for specific end uses like pickling and savory snacks ensured strong seasonal demand. Catering to niche culinary requirements reliably yields better profit margins.
- **Patience and Multidimensional Growth:** Nurturing two plants into an eighty-tree orchard took more than two decades alongside his performances as an entertainer. Long-term commitment and personal passion can build a sustainable, recognized local enterprise.

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