Originally reported and written in September 2023, this story has been republished as part of our archival content. 

Gurwinder Singh Sohi, who grew up around wheat fields in Punjab, decided in 2008 to harness the region’s favourable climate for the benefit of the farmers by switching from wheat farming to floriculture.

“For generations, my family has cultivated wheat and rice. I’ve noticed that despite the hard work farmers put into their fields day and night, they struggle to earn a decent income from it. In contrast, floriculture can yield two to three times the income compared to traditional wheat farming,” the 45-year-old tells The Better India.

“Besides, Punjab’s climate is ideal for growing most crops. The sandy loam soil and water with a pH of 7–7.5 are beneficial for flower cultivation. That’s why I chose flower farming over wheat, becoming the first farmer in my district [Fatehgarh Sahib] to do so,” he adds.

Today, he grows 40 varieties of exotic flowers — including California poppy, gladiolus, calendula, alyssum, chrysanthemum, daisy, delphinium, lupin, and salvia — on 22 acres of land in his village Nanowal. He produces around 10 tonnes of flowers in a five-month season, earning an income of Rs 1 lakh per acre.

Failed at everything to succeed in one

While most of his cousins, including his sister, moved to countries like the US and Canada in search of jobs, Gurwinder’s attachment to his village only grew. Without any aspirations to settle for a corporate job, he discontinued education after Class 12. “I never had any inclination towards higher studies. But I wanted to be accomplished and establish an identity for myself while living in the village,” he shares.

After completing Class 12 in 1993, he did several odd jobs from being a........

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