Amit Kishan worked for eight years in financial institutions such as ICICI, Bajaj, Axis, HDFC, and PNB in Bengaluru. However, he always felt an attraction to agriculture, much like his grandfather, who was a renowned farmer.
Today, he manages his agricultural enterprise in Andhra Pradesh. He recalls that his grandfather was a recognized farmer in the area, and as a child, they often visited the farm, playing in the soil while his grandfather worked in the fields. This memory left a deep mark on his soul.
After a client passed away from cancer within a year and a half, Amit handled the insurance claim for the family. He decided he wanted to rectify this situation, as all circumstances pushed him toward finding a better path.
He left his banking job and became a farmer. The first few months were difficult because they did not know what or when to grow, and they initially confused the Kharif and Rabi seasons.
Amit spent three years studying agriculture and interacting with organic farmers. In 2019, he co-founded Hebbevu Farms with his brother Ashrit. They started everything from scratch.
Adopting natural farming proved to be a challenging process. People mocked him, calling him foolish. Since neighboring farms used chemicals, Amit's fields were attacked by insects, making survival difficult.
He began digging the soil up to four feet deep to improve root growth and replaced chemical fertilizers with cow dung and urine, as well as bananas to increase potassium levels in the soil. As a result of this approach, according to Amit, earthworms reappeared in the soil. He also introduced local animals, which gave the farm an extra boost.
Starting with a loan of 1.5 crore rupees and a 15-acre plot, Amit now manages a 650-acre farm with an annual income of 21 crore rupees (as of June 2023). The farm also houses 700 local cows and buffaloes.
Furthermore, as of June 2023, Amit has provided employment to over 3000 women from 18 nearby villages. Each woman receives 25 liters of milk daily for the production of ghee, paneer, and other dairy products.
He notes that previously he worked for others, exhausting himself, whereas now he works for himself and his village. For him, farming has brought a more balanced lifestyle and the opportunity to spend time with his family in the village.