05-29-2005, 07:50 PM
Pioneer
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Farmhouses party on exotic harvest </b>
Deebashree Mohanty/ New Delhi
After an eventful though illegal stint with hosting high-end parties, farmhouse owners in and around the Capital have now shifted focus to a much more profitable, above-board and an exotic profit-making venture. Â
If all goes well for them and the technological prop does not give way, the luscious golden and green apple, juicy strawberries, rare herbs, exotic flowers and even imported veggies may be having their first bumper crop in and around Delhi.
More than 30 big farmhouse owners have begun growing flowers, herbs, fruit and vegetables instead of renting out their properties for hosting parties and marriages.
The trend is catching on fast and crores of rupee are being spend in the project. Delhi's Planning and Pesticide control under-secretary Rajeev Shukla says "farmhouse owners have already spent over Rs 20 crore on their ventures. As and when the market grows, there would be much greater investments."
With so much already invested on orchard ventures, which they perceive would help them maximise land use.
"Marriages are a seasonal affair and people don't hold parties everyday. So, we felt that farming agro exotica was the best way to ensure money flow round the year," says Amar Singhal, owner of the Rosary Beads Farm which is banking on the public's penchant for flowers .
Take the case of Prakriti Farms in Faridabad's Palwal district. The farm would soon be covered by firang cauliflower and cabbages.Prakriti's owner Ashish Kajerwala hit upon the idea during his trip to the Netherlands where he saw vegetable business booming and, thus, decided to buy hybrid stems.
Each weed of these never-before high-yield variety of giant cauliflower and cabbage cost him Rs 35,000 and he had to shell out around Rs 65 lakh to cover the entire field. And that was not it. "I had to spend much more on a greenhouse to provide made-to-order weather conditions to these alien plants," he tells you.
Cauliflower and cabbages are seasonal vegetables and one gets to savour them mostly in the winters. They are available in summers at a higher price. So, Ashish set up a greenhouse that required 60 litres of water everyday. Ashish also arranged a coolex ventilator to provide cooling to plants. His specialist gardener Rishi Raj adds that "each stem will bear six pound cabbages and seven to eight pounds of cauliflower."
So what prompted Ashish to invest so much when he was already making decent money by hosting party animals and marriage entourages? "Holding parties and marriages is a seasonal thing, so we thought of investing in the plantation business. Right now, we are just targetting the Delhi market, but if things go well, we will explore other markets too. For the moment though, I am confident of making a 10 per cent profit," he says.
Now some good news for those who savour red cucumber. The 10-acre Golden Creepers farmhouse in Chattarpur is covered by a 'red carpet' with a green and yellow background. "Red cucumber is ideal to beat the Delhi heat. We have got it from Ludhiana. A mild rainfall will help us post a good growth. We have already spent over Rs 15 lakh on a greenhouse and pesticides. We will spend Rs 8 lakh more on weeds. The business offers excellent potential. The initial profits of 10 per cent to 15 per cent could soon shoot up to 25 per cent" says Golden Creepers' owner Harry Anand.
Ten km from the Chattarpur temple, there is Rooftop, another farmhouse which boasts of huge akasia trees and colourful flower beds. The 13-acre farmhouse was earlier famous for holding marriages, but farmowner Atal Mankad now has plans to go the lettuce and broccoli way. One can find 12 varieties of broccoli on the farm. "With a rising salad craze, it will make
a good business proposition. Right now, we are just aiming to meet the production cost," says Mankad. The 8-acre Akasia Farms on the Delhi Mehraulii road has a huge expanse of greenery and rows of rose plants which look like sprinklers from a distance. By June-end or in the beginning of July, Delhites will get their first taste of green apples. Because Akasia's owner Rishab Singh has plans to grow them here.
Delhi gets most of its apples from Himachal Pradesh and part of it from Jammu. As a result, the cost of apples are always sky-high in the Capital. However, with apples from farms like Akasia finding a route to the markets, the prices are expected to come down.
"It would be a boon for Delhiites if the green apple crop gives desired results. That's because apple farming requires a cool climate. But thankfully, green apples can also grow in moderate climate. We are providing adequate ventilation to the plants. We are sure of a good harvest with the onset of rains," says Rishab. He expects to record a profit of at least 15 per cent in the first year.
"We have spent around Rs 15 lakh on first testing sample pieces and around Rs 80 lakh on outfield weeding. We are currently targetting the NCR region. We are a little apprehensive, but sure that our business will pick up and generate money in the long run."
Not to be left behind, the UK-based owners of Ashok Farms on the Gurgaon Road are all set to nurture a special variety of pineapples. The 10-acre farm was previously used for corporate parties, thanks to its breath-taking ambience. The owners have already spent close to Rs 10 lakh on ensuring technical support for cultivation.
Â
The 12-acre Anant Virat Farms will soon be covered with purple and red dahliyas and deep orange roses. Its owner Virat picked up the hybrid from France and claims to be "in possession of a special weed which would make the plantation successful in Delhi." He has already spent Rs 15 lakh on the venture. Meanwhile, Amar Singhal is banking on Delhiites' love for petunias and has spent around Rs 25 lakh on the flower's plantation in his 8-acre farmhouse Rosary Beads.
Herbal enthusiasts are not behind either in the race for making big moolah. Owners of both Shakti and the Garden Galore farms in Mehraulli have planned basil, fennel and even cherville herbs for their farms. Fennel is used as a condiment and is grown in parts of Australia and the hotter regions of the UK. Basil is grown in the US and the UK. Basil is a spicy scented herb, used for cooking especially in the Indian context.
Though the herb is not planted in India and costs Rs 100 for 50 gm. Galore's owner Vineet Sharma says "We already have chervil or in our farm. Chervil's lacy leaves resemble parsley and is mainly grown in the spring season. It can be put in soups, salads and curries. We are keen on planting basil and will begin in late August. We haven't still decided on Fennel. We are exploring the possibility of selling herbs in neighbouring States. As much as Rs 12 lakh has already been spent on the package, but we are sure to recover our investment."
Mr Rajeev Shukla is quite confident about the growth prospects. "If you go by the latest market trends, these growers should get over 30-35 per cent returns on their investments." All in all, a great visual and mouthful treat awaits Delhiites
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Farmhouses party on exotic harvest </b>
Deebashree Mohanty/ New Delhi
After an eventful though illegal stint with hosting high-end parties, farmhouse owners in and around the Capital have now shifted focus to a much more profitable, above-board and an exotic profit-making venture. Â
If all goes well for them and the technological prop does not give way, the luscious golden and green apple, juicy strawberries, rare herbs, exotic flowers and even imported veggies may be having their first bumper crop in and around Delhi.
More than 30 big farmhouse owners have begun growing flowers, herbs, fruit and vegetables instead of renting out their properties for hosting parties and marriages.
The trend is catching on fast and crores of rupee are being spend in the project. Delhi's Planning and Pesticide control under-secretary Rajeev Shukla says "farmhouse owners have already spent over Rs 20 crore on their ventures. As and when the market grows, there would be much greater investments."
With so much already invested on orchard ventures, which they perceive would help them maximise land use.
"Marriages are a seasonal affair and people don't hold parties everyday. So, we felt that farming agro exotica was the best way to ensure money flow round the year," says Amar Singhal, owner of the Rosary Beads Farm which is banking on the public's penchant for flowers .
Take the case of Prakriti Farms in Faridabad's Palwal district. The farm would soon be covered by firang cauliflower and cabbages.Prakriti's owner Ashish Kajerwala hit upon the idea during his trip to the Netherlands where he saw vegetable business booming and, thus, decided to buy hybrid stems.
Each weed of these never-before high-yield variety of giant cauliflower and cabbage cost him Rs 35,000 and he had to shell out around Rs 65 lakh to cover the entire field. And that was not it. "I had to spend much more on a greenhouse to provide made-to-order weather conditions to these alien plants," he tells you.
Cauliflower and cabbages are seasonal vegetables and one gets to savour them mostly in the winters. They are available in summers at a higher price. So, Ashish set up a greenhouse that required 60 litres of water everyday. Ashish also arranged a coolex ventilator to provide cooling to plants. His specialist gardener Rishi Raj adds that "each stem will bear six pound cabbages and seven to eight pounds of cauliflower."
So what prompted Ashish to invest so much when he was already making decent money by hosting party animals and marriage entourages? "Holding parties and marriages is a seasonal thing, so we thought of investing in the plantation business. Right now, we are just targetting the Delhi market, but if things go well, we will explore other markets too. For the moment though, I am confident of making a 10 per cent profit," he says.
Now some good news for those who savour red cucumber. The 10-acre Golden Creepers farmhouse in Chattarpur is covered by a 'red carpet' with a green and yellow background. "Red cucumber is ideal to beat the Delhi heat. We have got it from Ludhiana. A mild rainfall will help us post a good growth. We have already spent over Rs 15 lakh on a greenhouse and pesticides. We will spend Rs 8 lakh more on weeds. The business offers excellent potential. The initial profits of 10 per cent to 15 per cent could soon shoot up to 25 per cent" says Golden Creepers' owner Harry Anand.
Ten km from the Chattarpur temple, there is Rooftop, another farmhouse which boasts of huge akasia trees and colourful flower beds. The 13-acre farmhouse was earlier famous for holding marriages, but farmowner Atal Mankad now has plans to go the lettuce and broccoli way. One can find 12 varieties of broccoli on the farm. "With a rising salad craze, it will make
a good business proposition. Right now, we are just aiming to meet the production cost," says Mankad. The 8-acre Akasia Farms on the Delhi Mehraulii road has a huge expanse of greenery and rows of rose plants which look like sprinklers from a distance. By June-end or in the beginning of July, Delhites will get their first taste of green apples. Because Akasia's owner Rishab Singh has plans to grow them here.
Delhi gets most of its apples from Himachal Pradesh and part of it from Jammu. As a result, the cost of apples are always sky-high in the Capital. However, with apples from farms like Akasia finding a route to the markets, the prices are expected to come down.
"It would be a boon for Delhiites if the green apple crop gives desired results. That's because apple farming requires a cool climate. But thankfully, green apples can also grow in moderate climate. We are providing adequate ventilation to the plants. We are sure of a good harvest with the onset of rains," says Rishab. He expects to record a profit of at least 15 per cent in the first year.
"We have spent around Rs 15 lakh on first testing sample pieces and around Rs 80 lakh on outfield weeding. We are currently targetting the NCR region. We are a little apprehensive, but sure that our business will pick up and generate money in the long run."
Not to be left behind, the UK-based owners of Ashok Farms on the Gurgaon Road are all set to nurture a special variety of pineapples. The 10-acre farm was previously used for corporate parties, thanks to its breath-taking ambience. The owners have already spent close to Rs 10 lakh on ensuring technical support for cultivation.
Â
The 12-acre Anant Virat Farms will soon be covered with purple and red dahliyas and deep orange roses. Its owner Virat picked up the hybrid from France and claims to be "in possession of a special weed which would make the plantation successful in Delhi." He has already spent Rs 15 lakh on the venture. Meanwhile, Amar Singhal is banking on Delhiites' love for petunias and has spent around Rs 25 lakh on the flower's plantation in his 8-acre farmhouse Rosary Beads.
Herbal enthusiasts are not behind either in the race for making big moolah. Owners of both Shakti and the Garden Galore farms in Mehraulli have planned basil, fennel and even cherville herbs for their farms. Fennel is used as a condiment and is grown in parts of Australia and the hotter regions of the UK. Basil is grown in the US and the UK. Basil is a spicy scented herb, used for cooking especially in the Indian context.
Though the herb is not planted in India and costs Rs 100 for 50 gm. Galore's owner Vineet Sharma says "We already have chervil or in our farm. Chervil's lacy leaves resemble parsley and is mainly grown in the spring season. It can be put in soups, salads and curries. We are keen on planting basil and will begin in late August. We haven't still decided on Fennel. We are exploring the possibility of selling herbs in neighbouring States. As much as Rs 12 lakh has already been spent on the package, but we are sure to recover our investment."
Mr Rajeev Shukla is quite confident about the growth prospects. "If you go by the latest market trends, these growers should get over 30-35 per cent returns on their investments." All in all, a great visual and mouthful treat awaits Delhiites
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->