100-sq-ft farm, Rs 24 lakh annual profit: Coimbatore BCA graduate quits job to grow microgreens, says ‘Every additional tray adds straight to profit’

A conventional farm usually brings to mind acres of land, tractors and fields stretching into the distance. Vignesh P’s farm in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, measures just 100 square feet. Inside the air-conditioned room, crops grow vertically on racks rather than across fields. The BCA graduate says the compact operation now generates around Rs 3 lakh in monthly revenue and roughly Rs 2 lakh in monthly profit, about Rs 24 lakh annually if that monthly profit is sustained.

From a BCA Degree to Growing Vegetables

Vignesh completed his BCA in 2013 before taking a job with a gold jewellery company in Coimbatore. Gardening initially filled his spare time. “I began growing greens like spinach and mint, and my family used them at home,” he told 30Stades. Encouraged by the results, he began considering whether growing food could become a business. His first commercial experiment was hydroponics. In 2015, he installed a vertical Nutrient Film Technique system, where nutrient-rich water flows past plant roots without conventional soil. But Vignesh says consumers at the time were unwilling to pay around Rs 70 for a bunch of hydroponically grown vegetables. He eventually abandoned the idea.

Microgreens Changed the Equation

Instead of leaving farming, Vignesh switched to microgreens, young vegetable and herb seedlings harvested soon after germination. He converted a spare 10-by-10-foot air-conditioned room into a growing unit, initially fitting 64 trays and producing between 10 and 25 kg per week depending on demand. He began with crops including broccoli and alfalfa and approached potential customers directly before expanding to supermarkets.


There is scientific interest behind the growing popularity of these miniature crops. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research's Indian Horticulture describes microgreens as an emerging functional food crop valued for concentrations of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other bioactive compounds. Depending on the crop, they can generally be harvested within 7 to 21 days.

How 100 Sq Ft Generates Rs 3 Lakh a Month

Vignesh increased capacity from 64 to 150 trays without enlarging the 100-square-foot room. Vertical racks rise eight to nine feet, with individual shelves accommodating multiple trays. “The fixed costs of the room, including the AC and electricity, stay the same whether I use 64 trays or 150,” Vignesh explained, adding that additional vertically stacked trays contribute directly towards profit.

His microgreens include fenugreek, sunflower, coriander, radish and wheatgrass. He says beetroot microgreens can sell for around Rs 3,000 per kg, while radish starts at approximately Rs 1,800 per kg. Instead of producing indiscriminately, he follows a pre-order model intended to minimise waste.

Small Space, Different Kind of Farming

Vignesh's reported figures should not be treated as guaranteed returns for anyone entering microgreen farming. Temperature control, electricity, seeds, hygiene and critically, finding reliable buyers all affect profitability. ICAR also cautions that because microgreens are often eaten raw, growers must carefully manage contamination risks from seeds, growing media and irrigation water. Still, his journey illustrates how vertical growing can change the traditional relationship between land and agricultural output. What began with a few vegetables outside his home has become a business built inside a room barely larger than a small bedroom proving that, for some specialised crops, farming does not necessarily require acres of land.