Punjab farmer builds Rs 2 crore sugarcane business after returning from Greece
Hargurjit Singh Minhas uses intercropping and mechanised harvesting to generate annual net earnings of Rs 60-65 lakh.
Hargurjit Singh Minhas, a 36-year-old farmer from Daroli Kalan village in Jalandhar, has established a sugarcane-based agricultural enterprise that generates over Rs 2 crore in annual revenue, according to reports by The Indian Express and Times of India.
Minhas returned to Punjab five years ago after working in Greece for eight years. He decided to move away from the standard wheat and paddy cultivation used by most local farmers to focus on sugarcane, intercropping, and providing harvesting services.
He currently manages 60 acres of land, consisting of 12 acres of family-owned property and 48 acres obtained on lease at Rs 35,000 per acre annually. His model includes growing seven to eight additional crops, such as wheat, peas, and mustard, alongside the sugarcane.
Minhas estimates that his diversified approach yields higher returns than traditional methods. He claims that while wheat and paddy would have brought in roughly Rs 45-46 lakh in net earnings, his current model provides significantly more.
To supplement his income, Minhas invested approximately Rs 2 crore in mechanised harvesting and transportation equipment, including a harvester and tractors. He provides these services to other farmers, charging between Rs 70 and Rs 100 per quintal.
The farmer has used a trench-based planting system and a single-eye bud technique to manage his crops. He noted that his sugarcane cultivation uses about half the water required for paddy crops.