“The power of an idea can go a long way when it’s backed by knowledge and the willingness to serve. Now, knowledge doesn’t always have to mean book-smartness. At least, in my case, what made all the difference was curiosity. Though an average student in school, I took a liking for biology early on, which spiraled manifolds to eventually make me a food technologist.
As a part of the journey, I got to work with various prestigious projects and even hold a patent to my credit. But the best part of my years of research was when I was directly able to put it to good use. Now, we all would have heard about the woes of the farmers in our country, with either lack of produce or very low margins on the sale value. I understood the plight of some, from a friend, and decided to directly intervene to bring their produce to the consumers. Additionally, there was also a general rise in respect for organic products amongst people. So as a research scholar specializing in oils and fats, I went ahead to set up facilities for deriving cold-pressed oils in remote villages in Thiruvanamalai.
It was a tough decision, especially since I wasn’t exposed to the business world earlier, and also had to give up a coveted scientist position at the Defence Food Research Laboratory of India. Luckily though, my family understood the intention and was there to back me up at every step. Today, all of us are involved in the logistics and in overseeing the quality of each batch of oil obtained. What started as a test project aiding 10 farmers, has now grown into a trusted group of 35. Even amongst the buyers, the initiative has garnered so much love. I guess people today want to be more aware of what actually goes into the we food they eat. And it’s a healthy change considering the high level of adulteration that exists today. Hopefully, our effort sparks a positive change and steers people towards a better lifestyle!”
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