Assam-based venture ‘Graduate Farmer’ aims to touch Rs one crore in revenue this financial year
Guwahati: Amid concerns about antibiotic resistance, consumer demand for food produced without antibiotics is gradually rising in Assam. In this landscape, antibiotic-free poultry farming is flourishing, and an Assam-based start-up, interestingly named ‘Graduate Farmer’, is here to make the most of it.
Founded by law graduate Bapan Das and social worker Shamim Choudhury, 'Graduate Farmer' is a champion for antibiotic-free poultry farming that has also diversified into mushroom cultivation, offering sustainable and ethical alternatives to traditional practices.
Bapan and Shamim's vision for ‘Graduate Farmer’ took root with a seed capital of Rs one lakh. Talking about his entrepreneurial journey to Business North East, Bapan stated,
"Our passion for sustainable agriculture and desire to address market needs led to the creation of a platform that not only produces high-quality, antibiotic-free poultry products but also empowers local farmers to be self-reliant."
Around 1,000 farmers in the Cachar, Karimganj, and Hailakandi districts in the Barak Valley region of Assam are involved in antibiotic-free poultry farming. Graduate Farmer helps them with training and support to set up their own farms.
At present, the enterprise has over 1,000 farmers from across Assam, with 80 percent being women, in its orbit. According to Bapan, starting antibiotic-free poultry farming requires only half a bigha of land, while mushroom farming can be initiated in a modest 10x10-foot setup, making it accessible to a wide range of farmers. Hence, their business model appears to be achievable for most farmers in the state.
Despite initial challenges such as higher production costs, a lack of technical awareness, and insufficient funds, Graduate Farmer persevered. Bapan shared, "Though antibiotic-free farming incurs higher costs due to specialized feed and increased labor, the 10-15% reduction in production costs and higher prices our products command in the market have proven to be advantageous."
Graduate Farmer emphasizes better hygiene, vaccination, balanced nutrition, and proper living conditions, shared the entrepreneur, adding that the company utilizes alternatives to antibiotics, including turmeric, essential oils, and herbal supplements, to promote bird health.
Recently incubated under the North East Entrepreneurship Development Program (NEEDP) at IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP), Graduate Farmer received a grant of three lakh rupees.
The enterprise, with a monthly egg-hatching capacity of 5,000, over 1500 deliveries, and sales exceeding 50,000 chickens, has trained over 6,000 farmers through both offline and online modes. In the financial year 2023–24, it generated revenue in excess of Rs 50 lakh and expects to surpass that this coming year.
Looking ahead, the enterprise plans to expand operations, introduce innovative techniques, and extend antibiotic-free practices to other states in India. "We are also exploring integrated farming, aiming to create a more comprehensive and sustainable agricultural model," Bapan shared.
Meanwhile, the firm has acquired an 800-square-foot RCC building and established a 2000-capacity bag for a new AC mushroom farm. The enterprise has received an antibiotic absence testing report from Erec Lab Guwahati, and a poultry feed mill is already in operation, solidifying its position as a transformative force in the poultry industry.
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