5-acre farm, Rs 30 lakh profit: Maharashtra engineer quits US MNC job to grow organic moringa. ‘My work was good, but I enjoyed being on the farm’

For many professionals, leaving the comfort and familiarity of home for better career opportunities, higher salaries and greater exposure can seem like the obvious path. Yet, sometimes, the road to success takes an unexpected turn. A decision to return home and pursue a different career can prove equally rewarding. The inspiring story of Sagar Khare is something similar. Despite working for a reputed multinational company in America, the mechanical engineer quit his job, returned to his hometown, Solapur in Maharashtra, and started growing moringa for a living. His new profession now earns him Rs 36 lakhs per year.

From corporate job to organic farming

As per a report by 30 Stades, Sagar completed his mechanical engineering in 2016 and landed a job with the American company Adient, a global leader in automotive seating. He worked in the company’s Pune office for 2 years before deciding to resign from his position in 2018.

Sagar came back to his village, Kurduwadi, in Maharashtra’s Solapur district. His parents were also involved in traditional farming of sugarcane, wheat, gram and other crops. So, the former engineer revealed that since he grew up in a farming household, he couldn’t enjoy the corporate world as much as he thought he would. ‘My work was good, but I enjoyed being on the farm more,’ said Sagar.

Why the former engineer chose organic moringa farming

Sagar switched to organic moringa farming after realising that chemicals and pesticides were damaging the crops and piling up the expenses in his household. Before planting moringa, he focused on restoring the health of his farmland and worked on increasing the soil’s carbon content, which can improve fertility and water retention.

Sagar also explored crops that could withstand Solapur’s harsh summers, where temperatures can climb above 45°C. His research led him to moringa, whose leaves and drumsticks have growing demand in India and international markets. He also visited farmers in Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh to understand the crop and its commercial potential.

How his 5-acre farm earns Rs 36 lakh

The business has since grown significantly. According to Sagar, his 5-acre farm generates around Rs 36 lakh in annual turnover. Leaves account for Rs 12 lakh from one acre, while drumsticks bring in Rs 17 lakh and seed sales contribute Rs 7 lakh. After accounting for labour, manure, and other farming costs, he makes around Rs 30 lakh in profit. Sagar’s dried moringa leaf powder is sold directly to wholesalers and organic stores, which pay around Rs 500-Rs 600 per kg.

Moringa oleifera produces the long, slender drumsticks commonly used in sambhar and other Indian dishes, while its nutrient-rich leaves can be dried and ground into powder. Both products are valued for their nutritional properties and have found a growing market. India is also a major player in the global moringa trade and reportedly accounts for more than 80% of worldwide demand.