Amravati: For 14 years, Vikram Deshmukh worked as a mechanical engineer across New Zealand and Australia, in project management and sales, with a rewarding international career. But during a lunch in Sydney, a conversation about where the restaurant’s fish came from, changed everything.Today, Deshmukh runs a modern fish-processing unit in Nandgaon Peth area of Amravati, where he produces value-added products, employs 25 women, and has plans to scale to 200+ jobs in the next two years. It’s a story of failure, training, and bringing global knowledge home.“During a business trip to Sydney, I had lunch at a restaurant that served exceptionally fresh fish. When I asked about its quality, the owner explained that the fish was sourced directly from a modern fish farm located behind the restaurant,” he recalls.The revelation sparked his interest in aquaculture, and began experimenting with Recirculating Aquaculture Systems in his backyard in Sydney. “I failed four times before achieving success, but every setback strengthened my determination,” says Deshmukh.He later completed professional aquaculture training in Australia. His wife, Manjiri Deshmukh, was key to the move back. He says, “While many professionals leave India in search of opportunities abroad, I wanted to demonstrate that bringing global knowledge back home can create lasting value — a true example of ‘Brain Gain’ rather than ‘Brain Drain’.”After the initial setback, he invested in formal training in Australia, studied proven production systems, and adapted them to Indian conditions. The early years meant 4am starts — consulting as an engineer for clients in Australia and China by day, and building the aquaculture business the rest of the time.Setting up a unit with freezers, cold storage, and 2,400 tonnes annual capacity in Amravati came with infrastructure, finance, and market challenges. Focus on transparency, compliance with govt guidelines and a clear plan helped them access the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana and other fisheries schemes.He also credits local support. “We received valuable guidance from Suresh Bharti, RDC Fisheries, and the officers of the Amravati Fisheries Department — Meshram Sir, Amita Jain Madam, and Sanap Sir — whose support was instrumental in helping us establish the project.”His unit, Aus Tech Industries focuses on turning freshwater fish into hygienic, ready-to-use products. Women are at the center of the model. “Their discipline, attention to detail, and commitment make them an integral part of the food processing industry, while also creating meaningful employment opportunities across Vidarbha,” Deshmukh says.The ambition is big — 200+ direct jobs in 2 years, and over 1,000 jobs in 5-7 years across fisheries, food processing, organic fertilizers, and animal nutrition.“India offers immense opportunities for those willing to build with patience, quality and integrity. If you consistently deliver quality products and honour your commitments, success will follow”, he said when asked to give advice to engineers abroad who are considering a return.
