The interviews and reporting for this story were conducted in July 2024.

‘What’s your purpose in life?’ Couple Gnana Saravanan and Krishnasudha were pondering over this quintessential question as they sipped their morning tea. Both IT professionals worked in the bustling city of Chennai in private companies, far from their roots.

Saravanan is an eighth-generation farmer and the first in his family to graduate from college. When he moved to Chennai for higher education, he missed the lush greenery of his family farm in Palakkad, Kerala.

“Over time, I realised that my purpose wasn’t to work for corporations. As a farmer’s son, I felt a responsibility to give back to my roots and help sustain our generational farm. After all, it was the income from farming that provided for my education and that of my siblings,” Saravanan tells The Better India.

Krishnasudha too, who grew up on a farm, always wished to retain the lush greenery that a farm life offered. This was a pact that they drew when they first met each other for marriage, she laughs. “We both wanted to return to the farm after working for a few years in corporate,” she says.

With this thought in mind, the couple quit their jobs and returned to Palakkad in 2016.

What they’ve achieved and how they’ve transformed their farm since is an inspiring lesson for many. By leveraging technology for good, they mechanised the entire farming process, from creating natural fertilisers to setting up efficient irrigation systems.

Additionally, they developed value-added products like coconut oil and ghee, all produced at their farm, Deesan Farms.

Building a model organic farm

Saravanan’s family owns 36 acres of land where they primarily grew coconuts. Although they practised

© The Better India