Software Engineer Quit His US Job to Build a 350-Acre Fish Farming Empire in Raebareli Sujeet Chaudhary from Basti quit his software engineering job in America to take up fish farming in Raebareli, and today produces 600 to 700 tonnes of fish a year from 23 ponds spread across 350 acres. Sujeet Chaudhary, who hails from Waltarganj in Basti district of Uttar Pradesh, once worked as a software engineer at a multinational company in America, but he never felt settled abroad and eventually returned to his village. Today, that same Sujeet runs a large fish farming business spread across 350 acres in Raebareli and earns lakhs of rupees every year. From a software company to fish farming After returning to his village, Sujeet first began taking care of his parents and decided to start his own software company. In 2016, he set up this company in Noida. Once the company started doing well, Sujeet thought about starting another business while staying close to his parents. With this idea in mind, he traveled to Lucknow to meet his parents, where he came across Sunita Verma, the Assistant Fisheries Director of Raebareli. Sunita Verma explained fish farming to him in detail and told him that he could earn lakhs of rupees through fish farming while staying at home, and could also generate employment for many people. This idea stayed with Sujeet. From 15 acres to a 350-acre operation After getting this information from Sunita Verma, Sujeet rented land in Bawan Buzurg Balla village under Maharajganj tehsil in Raebareli. He started out by building ponds on around 15 acres for fish farming. Gradually, the business grew so much that today Sujeet farms fish in 23 ponds spread across 350 acres of land in the village. According to Sujeet, he earns lakhs of rupees every year from this work. He has also created employment for more than two dozen people, who work directly at his ponds. The fish species Sujeet farms Sujeet Kumar says he farms fish covered under IMC, or Indian Major Crop, on a large scale, including Rohu, Katla and Mrigal. Besides these, he also farms the American species Pangasius and sea shrimp. These fish are supplied abroad, while the sea shrimp is sent to Mumbai, from where it gets exported. Inspiration during Covid and a national award Sujeet says that during the Covid pandemic, when everything had shut down, Prime Minister Modi inspired young people to take up new work through a startup scheme. Taking inspiration from that, Sujeet started this fish farming work. The government also recognised his hard work and honoured him with the National Best Fish Farmer Award for his contribution to fish farming. Sujeet wants to develop Raebareli into a fish hub. At present, his ponds produce 600 to 700 tonnes of fish every year. Using modern technology to protect the fish Sujeet Chaudhary makes extensive use of modern technology in his fish farming operation. To protect the fish from harsh summer heat, he has installed an aerator system in the ponds, which keeps the oxygen level in the water stable and helps the fish survive even in extreme heat. What this means for you • Across India: The story shows that with the right guidance, moving back to a village and taking up fish farming can bring solid earnings, offering an alternative path to young people who feel city jobs are their only option. • In Raebareli: More than two dozen local people already have direct employment through Sujeet's ponds, and his plan to turn Raebareli into a fish hub could create more jobs in the region going forward. Questions & Answers 1. Who is Sujeet Chaudhary? Sujeet Chaudhary is from Waltarganj in Basti district of Uttar Pradesh, who used to work as a software engineer at a multinational company in America and now runs a large fish farming business in Raebareli. 2. How did Sujeet get into fish farming? While visiting his parents in Lucknow, Sujeet met Sunita Verma, the Assistant Fisheries Director of Raebareli, who told him about the benefits of fish farming, and he started this work inspired by her. 3. How big is Sujeet's fish farming business? Sujeet farms fish in 23 ponds spread across 350 acres of land in Bawan Buzurg Balla village in Raebareli. 4. Which fish does Sujeet farm? He farms IMC fish like Rohu, Katla and Mrigal, along with the American species Pangasius and sea shrimp. 5. Where are his fish supplied? His fish are supplied abroad, while the sea shrimp is sent to Mumbai, from where it gets exported. 6. How many people has Sujeet's business employed? More than two dozen people have found direct employment through Sujeet's fish farming business. 7. What award has Sujeet received? The government has honoured him with the National Best Fish Farmer Award for his work in fish farming. 8. How much fish does Sujeet produce annually? At present, Sujeet's ponds produce 600 to 700 tonnes of fish every year. Inspiration & Lessons • Quitting a big job abroad is not failure, if your heart isn't in it, returning to your roots and finding a new path there can be a wise decision. • The right advice from the right person can change your life, Sujeet's journey took a new direction after just one meeting with Assistant Fisheries Director Sunita Verma. • Don't be afraid to start small, Sujeet began with just a 15-acre pond, which has now grown into a 350-acre operation with 23 ponds. • Think about creating jobs for others alongside your own work, Sujeet's business has directly employed more than two dozen people. • Make the most of government schemes and encouragement, Sujeet started this work after being inspired by Prime Minister Modi's startup scheme during the Covid period. https://trendkia.com/en/success-stories/sophtaveyara-injiniyaringa-chhora-basti-nivasi-sujeet-chaudhary-ne-raebareli-men-khara-kiya-350-ekara-ka-machhali-palana-karobara-8801 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.