WOW STORY OF THE DAY: From IBM to Organic Roots: How Roja Reddy Turned Barren Land into a ₹3 Crore Farm

When the world went into lockdown in 2020, Roja Reddy chose to unlock her ancestral land’s potential. Leaving behind her IBM career, she co-founded Nisarga Native Farms with friend Dattathreya Sanjeev. The mission was clear: heal soil damaged by years of chemical farming and bring back traditional respect for the land.

Roja’s inspiration came from childhood memories of her grandfather’s patient pomegranate farming. Watching the soil lose vitality over time pushed her to act. Despite skepticism at home and doubts about yield, she stayed firm in her belief that nutrition should come from food, not pills.

Today, Nisarga Native Farms spans 50 acres, producing 40+ varieties of fruits and vegetables organically. Operating on a B2B model with dynamic pricing, the farm clocked ₹3 crore in FY25 revenue. More than numbers, it represents resilience overcoming drought, family resistance, and market uncertainty.

The journey offers lessons in scaling with authenticity. By focusing on soil health, crop diversity, and sustainable practices, Roja proved that organic farming can be both profitable and impactful. Her story shows that conviction, patience, and purpose can transform barren land into a thriving enterprise.

Looking ahead, Nisarga Native Farms plans to expand into value-added products, exports, and automation, aiming to scale impact while staying true to its mission of sustainable nutrition.

Learnings from the Journey

Roja’s story teaches that purpose driven entrepreneurship can thrive even in harsh conditions. Organic farming, often seen as risky, can be profitable when combined with strategic models like B2B sales. Most importantly, her journey highlights that resilience and conviction can overcome resistance, proving that sustainability and profitability are not mutually exclusive.

Sources: Startup Pedia, Business Coverage