Sorrow to success: A potato farmer in debt turns soya milk pioneer

“I had been cultivating potatoes since 1983 and made substantial profits, but in the late 1990s, I faced a setback. A severe market glut from 1998 to 2001 left me with unsold crops and mounting debts. Forced to sell off almost my 15 acres of land, I found myself in dire straits, struggling to make ends meet,” Garcha said, adding, “I lost everything I had worked for.”

Fate took a turn when Garcha attended a trade fair at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. There, he discovered a stall showcasing soybean cultivation and dairy processing techniques. Intrigued by the potential, he decided to pivot towards soybean farming and dairy production.

With newfound determination, Garcha underwent training in Madhya Pradesh and established a small soybean processing unit. He started soybean cultivation on just one acre in 2002 and set up a modest one-room factory to produce soya milk and paneer.

“I also opened a small kirana (grocery) shop in my village where I offered soya milk for free to my customers. I didn’t have other means of popularising my soy milk in Punjab, where people prefer cow and buffalo milk and big milk brands dominate the market,” he said. “For two years, from 2002 to 2004, I was just giving away milk at my kirana shop.

Everyone liked it, but no one was willing to switch from animal milk.” In 2004, after a severe rainstorm during the paddy harvesting season led to discolored and blackish rice, the central government sent a team of experts led by renowned scientist Dr MS Swaminathan to Punjab. During their visit to Sangrur, Dr Swaminathan and his team, including Punjab farmers’ commission chairman GS Kallat, visited Sangrur and during their meeting at the deputy commissioner office they came to know about Garcha’s soyabean cultivation and small processing unit
“Upon learning this Dr. MS Swaminathan insisted to visit my small plant along with his entire team and they appreciated my efforts.

I was totally surprised by their visit. On learning about the lack of market for soya milk, Dr Swaminathan requested assistance from the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). PAU then provided Garcha with a shop on their premises, which marked a turning point for his business.

The shop, now known as Vigour Soya Health Milk and Paneer, continues to operate successfully, offering bottled milk, kulfi, and paneer,” he said.

Garcha gradually reinvested his earnings into purchasing back the land he had previously sold, reclaiming ownership of 7 acres. He has also established a larger plant with facilities for grinding, making milk, and paneer from soybeans, along with automatic bottling and packaging.

Utilising his 7 acres solely for soybean cultivation, he also leased additional land, promoting soybeans in a region traditionally dominated by wheat and paddy.

“In Punjab, we are stuck in a cycle of wheat and paddy,” explains Garcha. “I want to show that soybean farming can be profitable and beneficial for health.” Soybeans are cultivated in late April or early May and harvested in October. “Farmers need to sow in ‘tar wattar’ (moist) conditions and require 30 kg of seeds costing around Rs 1,800 per acre, along with 30 kg of DAP or super phosphate at sowing and 50 kg of potash.

Harvesting is done using a combine harvester. I keep my crop at home for processing, and purchase additional soybeans from Madhya Pradesh and the local market to run my plant throughout the year. From my soybean fields, I yield 6-7 quintals per acre,” he said, adding that Verka milk is a staple here, but there’s growing demand for alternatives.

Garcha’s soy milk has gained popularity not only for its nutritional benefits but also for catering to lactose-intolerant individuals and health-conscious consumers.

Today, Garcha operates a thriving enterprise. And from one room processing unit he upgraded his plant in 2010 to an automatic system capable of processing 60 kg of soybeans to produce 300 liters of soy milk and 50 to 60 kg of tofu/paneer per hour. With an annual turnover of over Rs 60 lakh, Garcha has helped establish 16 soybean processing plants in Punjab and three in Uttar Pradesh.

Students and trainees from PAU and various educational institutes visit his farm to study his venture. His factory produces 3-4 quintals of soy paneer and 500 to 1,000 packets of soy milk daily, along with bottled milk. Garcha provides employment to around 20 people at his plant.

Garcha has received numerous accolades, including the State Award in 2003 and the Chaudhary Charan Singh National Award in 2004, among others. Mandeep Singh, Associate Director of Training at Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Sangrur, said that Garcha was facilitated with soil beverage of the year 2023 (Vigour Soya Health) award in recognition of his contribution to the Indian soy industry.

He said that his name was chosen by Soy food and promotion and welfare Association (SFPW ) for this prestigious award. The award was presented by Om Prakash Saklecha, Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Science and Technology, Madhya Pradesh, at the 9th International Soya Food Conference on Sustainable Sources of Protein for Health and Wellness held on June 22, 2023, at the Brilliant Convention Centre in Indore, MP.

Looking ahead, Garcha remains steadfast in his mission to expand his enterprise and to inspire fellow farmers to diversify their crops into different fields. “My goal is to regain all my lost land through hard work and dedication. And to provide pure soy milk to people seeking healthier choices,” he said.