In a world where the corporate ladder is often seen as the pinnacle of success, Kotinaga Manikanta and Naga Venkata Durga Pavani took a bold and unconventional leap. Both BTech graduates initially followed the well-trodden path of the IT industry after completing their degrees. However, leaving behind the stability and rewards of their successful careers, this husband-and-wife duo from Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, traded boardrooms for farm fields, all in pursuit of healthier food and a better world for farmers and consumers alike.

Manikanta worked at Infosys, and Pavani at Accenture, both carving out solid careers in the fast-paced, technology-driven world. But despite significant success, they felt something was missing. “I saw many colleagues in the IT sector struggling with health issues, despite their well-paying jobs,” Manikanta tells The Better India.

“They were leading sedentary lifestyles, and it made us realise that there was an opportunity to make a real difference in their health,” adds Pavani. This realisation, combined with a desire to contribute more meaningfully to society, planted the seeds for ‘Sreshte’ — a store for all organic products.

As they observed the growing health issues tied to poor diets and inactive lifestyles, they also became increasingly aware of the challenges faced by organic farmers in securing reliable markets for their produce. “We realised it wasn’t just about profit, but about making a genuine difference,” Pavani reflects. “We believed organic farming could be the solution, not only for the health of consumers but also for the farmers committed to sustainable practices.”

From IT offices to farm fields

With no prior experience in farming, Manikanta and Pavani embarked on an intense learning journey. They enrolled in the Subash Palekar Natural Farming (SPNF) method, a technique that focuses on sustainability and eliminates the use of chemicals and pesticides. “We started attending training sessions on weekends in our village, Lachannagudipudi, Andhra Pradesh, while working in Chennai,” says Manikanta. “Balancing our full-time IT jobs and weekend training wasn’t easy, but our passion for making a change kept us going,” he adds.

In 2017, after months of rigorous learning and careful planning, the couple made a life-changing decision. They left their stable IT careers behind and returned to Guntur, investing their savings of Rs 17 lakh into a new venture, ‘Sreshte’. The name, inspired by the Sanskrit word meaning “best” or “excellent”, perfectly encapsulated their vision, to offer only the finest organic products, grounded in their commitment to health, sustainability, and quality.

© The Better India