After spending eight years in industrial sales in Bengaluru, Chethan Shetty made a life-changing decision in 2017. Leaving behind a secure corporate career, he returned to his hometown in Karnataka to manage his family’s 11-acre ancestral farmland. (Image-Instagram/@manjannashettyfamilyfarms)
Despite criticism from friends and relatives, Chethan chose farming over a high-paying job. He invested nearly Rs 17-18 lakh into transforming the traditional farm and today earns between Rs 25-60 lakh in annual revenue with profits touching Rs 15 lakh. (Image-Instagram/@manjannashettyfamilyfarms)
Chethan focused on balancing stability with growth. While arecanut farming provides a dependable yearly income of nearly Rs 12 lakh, he also experimented with premium exotic fruits to create additional high-value revenue streams for the farm. (Image-Instagram/@manjannashettyfamilyfarms)
He introduced crops like rambutan, mangosteen, avocado, turmeric, and nutmeg. Rambutan sells between Rs 200-400 per kg, while mangosteen can fetch up to Rs 750 per kg during peak demand, making them highly profitable choices. (Image-Instagram/@manjannashettyfamilyfarms)
The farm has now expanded into a large-scale agricultural venture. It houses over 2,500 arecanut trees, 800 pepper vines, 300 coconut trees, 650 rambutan trees, and more than 100 mangosteen plants, according to The Better India. (Image-Instagram/@manjannashettyfamilyfarms)
Farming, however, came with major risks. Due to changing weather conditions, rambutan production dropped sharply from 5,500 kg in 2022 to only 400 kg in 2024. Instead of giving up, Chethan adapted his farming methods and replanned cultivation. (Image-Instagram/@manjannashettyfamilyfarms)
To improve efficiency, Chethan adopted smarter planting techniques and optimised land usage without increasing the farm’s size. He also built a strong delivery network from Mangaluru, using roads, trains, and buses to serve customers across India. (Image-Instagram/@manjannashettyfamilyfarms)
Chethan’s passion for agriculture also helped local farmers. By partnering with platforms like Zepto and Farmizen, he improved market access for rural producers and proved modern farming can become a successful business. (Image-Instagram/@manjannashettyfamilyfarms)
