# From College Graduate To Organic Farmer: How A Gonda Youth Is Reaping Big Profits With Taro Cultivation > Ditching the traditional rat race for corporate jobs, Raghavendra Mishra from Uttar Pradesh has transformed a half bigha plot into a lucrative organic taro root farming venture. **Type:** article · **Category:** Success Stories · **Published:** 2026-07-20 · **Source:** TrendKia **Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/success-stories/naukari-ki-daura-chhora-gonda-ke-isa-yuva-ne-chuni-kheti-ki-raha-jaivika-arabi-ugakara-kama-rahe-bnpara-munapha-9170 · **Language:** English **Tags:** Organic Farming, Success Story, Youth Farmer, Arbi Cultivation, Uttar Pradesh News, Gonda News, Agriculture Business In an era where most fresh college graduates relentlessly pursue corporate employment or government jobs, a young man from the Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh has chosen a remarkably different path. Raghavendra Mishra decided to step away from the conventional job hunt and instead channel his education and energy into agriculture. By adopting modern and purely organic farming techniques, he has successfully cultivated Arbi, also known as taro root or colocasia, turning a modest piece of land into a highly profitable enterprise. ## Shifting Away From Chemical Agriculture Mishra comes from a family with a background in traditional farming. However, he recognised early on that conventional methods, which heavily rely on chemical fertilizers and toxic pesticides, were degrading soil health and reducing crop quality. Determined to innovate, he transitioned the family's agricultural practices towards a completely organic approach. Instead of buying expensive synthetic chemicals, he enriches his soil using natural alternatives like well rotted cow dung manure, nutrient rich vermicompost, and Jivamrit, a traditional organic fertilizer mixture. This conscious shift not only guarantees a safer, chemical free harvest but also naturally restores and maintains the long term fertility of the earth. ## The Cultivation Cycle And Organic Benefits Growing taro root organically requires patience and precise care. According to Mishra, the crop generally takes about six to seven months to reach full maturity and be ready for harvest. During this growing period, the fields require consistent maintenance. Mishra ensures timely irrigation and regularly carries out weeding to keep unwanted plants from competing with the crop. Furthermore, he periodically sprays natural, organic solutions over the plants to protect them from pests and diseases. "These natural methods ensure excellent plant growth while significantly reducing the risk of crop diseases," Mishra explains. He notes that bypassing chemical inputs drastically lowers the overall cost of cultivation while keeping the soil highly productive for future planting seasons. ## Investment, Yield, And Market Success The financial mechanics of this organic farming venture are particularly striking. Mishra has been cultivating Arbi for the past 4 years, currently dedicating about half a bigha of land to this specific crop. When he first started out, his initial capital investment was surprisingly low, amounting to just 300 to 400 rupees. Today, his recurring costs are practically negligible because he prepares and treats his own seeds at home for each new sowing season. His only real ongoing expenses are the minor labor costs associated with routine weeding and field maintenance. ## A Profitable Future Ahead The returns on this minimal investment have been highly encouraging. From just his half bigha plot, Mishra consistently harvests an impressive yield ranging from 8 to 9 quintals of taro root. Because organically grown produce commands a premium in the market due to high consumer demand, he easily sells his harvest at a robust price of 40 to 50 rupees per kilogram. This lucrative pricing model generates a substantial and steady income stream, far exceeding what traditional farming methods might yield on a similarly sized plot. Encouraged by this ongoing financial success and the positive environmental impact of his methods, Mishra is already formulating plans to expand his organic cultivation operations on a much larger scale in the coming years. ## What this means for you - **Across India:** This story proves that modern, chemical free agriculture can be a highly lucrative career alternative for educated youth struggling with corporate job markets. - **For Farmers:** Shifting to organic inputs like vermicompost and treating seeds at home can drastically cut cultivation costs while securing premium market prices for the harvest. ## Questions & Answers ### 1. Who is Raghavendra Mishra? Raghavendra Mishra is an educated youth from the Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh who chose organic farming as his career after completing his graduation. ### 2. What crop does he cultivate? He primarily cultivates Arbi (taro root) on his half bigha agricultural plot. ### 3. How long does the Arbi crop take to grow? According to Mishra, the Arbi crop generally takes about six to seven months to reach full maturity. ### 4. What kind of fertilizers are used in this farming? He completely avoids chemical fertilizers, instead using well rotted cow dung manure, vermicompost, and Jivamrit to keep the soil fertile. ### 5. What was his initial investment for this farming venture? When he started farming Arbi four years ago, his initial investment was a mere 300 to 400 rupees. ### 6. How much yield does he get from a half bigha plot? He consistently harvests a yield of about eight to nine quintals of Arbi from his half bigha farm. ### 7. At what price does he sell his organic crop in the market? Because of high demand for organically grown produce, his crop easily sells at a premium rate of 40 to 50 rupees per kilogram in the local market. ## Inspiration & Lessons - **Reject the Herd Mentality:** Instead of blindly running after traditional jobs after graduation, Mishra analyzed his family's existing resources and innovated upon them. - **Start Small, Aim High:** He proved that a massive initial investment isn't necessary; he started his venture with just 300 to 400 rupees on a small half bigha plot. - **Focus on Quality:** By completely abandoning chemical fertilizers for natural alternatives, he created a premium product that commands a higher market rate. - **Self Reliance:** Treating his own seeds at home entirely eliminated one of the biggest recurring costs in agriculture, maximizing his profit margins. --- _TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._