Harmanpreet Singh, a marginal farmer from Taragarh Talawan village near Jandiala, transformed two avocado saplings sent from Ethiopia into a thriving nursery business. In 2013, he dispatched the plants while working abroad. Today, his enterprise, Singh Agro Farm and Nursery, sells avocado fruits, saplings, and hundreds of other plant varieties.
From Ethiopia to East Africa
Harmanpreet left India at age 23 to work in Ethiopia. He initially leased land to grow cotton but soon experimented with other crops and fruit plants. Seeking better conditions, he acquired small land parcels in Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.
He returned to India in 2020 for his marriage. “I was surprised and happy to see that the two avocado saplings I had sent back had grown and were now bearing fruit,” Harmanpreet said. “That changed everything.”
Pandemic Pivot
The COVID-19 lockdown soon followed, giving him time to reflect. “I decided to take up fruit cultivation here,” he added. He started a fruit nursery at his home, which expanded into a full-fledged business. He now sells fruit tree saplings, ornamental plants, flower saplings, and vegetable seedlings.
Harmanpreet noted that many farmers, trapped in wheat–paddy monoculture, have lost the ability to identify high-quality planting material. His work relies on maintaining strong mother plants of several fruit varieties.
500 Varieties and Growing
“Presently, I have more than 500 different varieties of flowers, vegetables and fruits. We have also helped farmers establish dragon fruit plantations and apple orchards in the region,” he said. He believes horticulture holds immense potential, as shrinking agricultural land and a rising population leave existing orchards insufficient to meet demand.
He emphasized combining traditional knowledge with modern agricultural techniques for sustainable farming. “Farmers should also learn from experts, as local growers often lack experience in fruit cultivation. Moreover, anyone interested should start small,” he suggested.
