Ropar farmer on way to prosperity, with herbs

Arun Sharma

Tribune News Service

Ropar, May 14

This Dakala village farmer is an inspiration for many. Narinder Singh, who owns just 2.5 acres, has an annual turnover of Rs 3 crore. He grows medicinal herbs and has set up a small-scale industry.

The farmer-cum-industrialist is also manufacturing herbal cosmetics as well as health drinks.

Narrating his success story, Narinder said it was 12 years ago when some acquaintance sold him a bottle of imported aloe vera juice for Rs 1,000. “There was an aloe vera plant at my house, which my father used for curing various ailments,” he said. When he gave Rs 1,000 for a bottle, he thought of starting his own business.

He got 25 acres on lease in and around the village and visited many farm universities, including the ones in Ludhiana, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, to learn a few techniques. In 2007, Punjab Ayurvedic Department Director Rakesh Sharma noticed his efforts and advised him to grow herbs and manufacture products. “I had no money for the start-up, but with the help of Sharma, I prepared a paste/powder of herbs,” he said.

Things fell in place and soon he was joined by his son Kultar Singh, a mechanical engineer, who left his job at a private engineering college two years ago. Now, one of his daughters and daughter-in-law are also looking after the production units, said Narinder.

With a substantial increase in the income, modern technology was introduced in the manufacturing unit and now the company is producing dozens of products, including aloe vera juice, liver tonic, herbal toothpaste, shampoo, soap, hair oil, handwash and other juices.

“Our toothpaste is being used by Air India and now our business has become international,” he claimed.