Left Rs 2 Lakh Job in Germany: A well-paying foreign employment might be the dream of many, but Ashok Kumawat took a different route. Having worked as a robot trainer in Germany earning a monthly pay of Rs 2 lakh, he gave up everything to come back to India. He started a business based on traditional Indian ingredients such as amla and millets. Now, he earns crores selling amla laddus and giving employment to more than two dozen individuals.

From Germany to Indian Villages

Ashok Kumawat did his engineering from a Jodhpur-based university. Then he was in Egypt, and after that, he came to Germany. There, he was working as a robot trainer for six months, where he used to earn Rs 2 lakh per month. But there was a urge to do something for his country that brought him back. His father was already into agriculture, and Ashok knew amla since his early days. The COVID-19 pandemic provided him with the inspiration to initiate something with increasing demand—amla-based products.

Initiating the Amla Startup

Upon his return, he received formal training from CAZRI in preparing amla and millet products. To finance his business plan, he took a loan of Rs 25 lakh under the scheme Pradhan Mantri Swayam Rojgar Yojana. His startup started from his own lands but to mitigate transport expenses, he subsequently purchased a plot in Jodhpur’s industrial belt and installed all processing machinery there. In 2020, his startup operation formally kicked off.

Crores in Turnover and Employment Generation

Early on, turnover was to the tune of Rs 25 lakh. Today it has reached beyond Rs 1 crore. Today, he employs 25-30 persons and has vastly increased his activities. Even a past Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has noted his efforts and acknowledged him during a public function. His family holds 35 bighas of land with 10 bighas carrying 1,000 amla trees. The 14-year-old orchard yields 80,000 quintals of amla every year, which was earlier sold at a mere Rs 8–10 per kilo.

Amla Now Fetches Rs 250 per Kilo

Due to the startup, Ashok now retails amla products at Rs 200–250 per kilo. He also has 450 lemon trees and 400 jamun trees on his land. A well is used to supply water for irrigation. Along with this, he still grows conventional crops like onions, wheat, cotton, and bajra, showing how a clever combination of business and farming can succeed.

Training Others in Amla-Based Entrepreneurship

Ashok is not only managing his own enterprise but also is motivating others in surrounding villages to pursue the same. He educates youth through government schemes and individual guidance on how value-added agricultural products, particularly from common fruits like amla, are profitable.

Growing with Millet-Based Products

Except for amla laddus, Ashok has ventured into millet-based superfoods. It is becoming a hit with increasing demand for desi and organic superfoods and a high nutritional profile. This planned expansion contributes both to revenue as well as the customer base.