Pallavi Vyas was born and raised in a grounded environment in Rajasthan, where her parents were in government service. Despite her village upbringing, she grew up with strong values and a desire to make a meaningful impact. After her marriage to a professional and spending several years as a homemaker, Pallavi, an MBA by education, felt a growing need to channel her time and capabilities into something more purposeful.
The shift wasn’t immediate. Her initial foray into the workforce through agency-based work left her feeling unfulfilled. Her love for nature eventually led her to open a boutique floral venture, where she curated custom bouquets and started growing flowers herself. Encouragement from her mother-in-law gave her confidence, especially when she offered to take care of household responsibilities so that Pallavi could pursue her career more freely.
However, this supportive phase was short-lived as her mother-in-law was diagnosed with cancer within a year. With young children and a family to care for, Pallavi found herself at a difficult crossroads once again.
Genesis of Shanta Farms: A Dream Rooted in Responsibility
The idea for Shanta Farms was born out of both necessity and vision. The family owned a plot of land in Indore, under her late mother-in-law’s name, and Pallavi decided to make something meaningful out of it. Around 2013–14, she began working on organic produce exports to the United States, well before organic agriculture had become a buzzword in India.
Driven by a desire to give back to society, she ventured into dairy farming. Her goal was clear: provide clean, organic milk free from chemicals and antibiotics. What started as a modest setup with just six cows grew rapidly. Pallavi invested in advanced dairy infrastructure with cutting-edge machinery imported from abroad and installed sensors for tracking cow health and productivity.
She ensured that the entire dairy ecosystem, from cow feed to milking techniques was built around ethical and organic principles. Shanta Farms soon launched door-to-door milk delivery in Indore, bringing fresh and adulteration-free milk directly to consumers. Within just three years, they were serving over 400 households daily.
Innovation Through Education: Moringa Discovery
Operating in Mewar, a region often plagued by drought, Pallavi encountered challenges in ensuring quality fodder for her cows. Local farmers traditionally focused on crops like wheat, cotton, and soybean, with limited experience in livestock nutrition.
Not one to back down, she pursued specialized courses in livestock nutrition, including training in the Netherlands, a global leader in organic dairy practices. It was during one of these courses that she came across moringa as a nutritional supplement for cows. After incorporating it into the cows’ diet, she witnessed a significant increase in milk production and a noticeable improvement in the animals’ overall health. Medication costs dropped, and the cows’ vitality improved.
Realizing its full potential, she began cultivating moringa on her own farm. This small shift would soon evolve into a cornerstone of her entrepreneurial success.
Scaling Impact with Science-Backed Nutrition
By 2019, when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Pallavi saw a new opportunity; what had improved animal health could surely help humans too. She began experimenting with moringa powder for human consumption, especially as a natural immunity booster during the pandemic.
Shanta Farms began distributing moringa-based supplements to cancer patients, women, and individuals with chronic health issues. This initiative gained widespread attention and laid the foundation for further innovations.
One of her landmark achievements came in the form of ‘Morvita’, a moringa-based health drink. Approved by the State Food Department, Morvita was distributed through Anganwadi centres in Ujjain and other districts of Madhya Pradesh. The product played a key role in tackling malnutrition among children and anemia among women. As of now, the initiative has helped nourish over 60,000 children and has contributed to making 10,000 women anaemia-free.
From a Dairy to a Holistic Nutrition Brand
Today, Shanta Farms has diversified into multiple moringa-based products including animal feed supplements, health beverages and dairy products like ghee. With a turnover of Rs 7 crore in the last fiscal year, the enterprise stands as a self-sustained, socially impactful, and profitable venture.
The farm was relocated closer to Indore city in 2021 to ease management and expand operations. Under Pallavi’s leadership, the enterprise has now evolved from a dairy farm into a nutrition and wellness brand, all while staying true to its organic roots.
Her initiative has also become an inspiration for the integration of dairy farming into India’s MSME sector, making her the first Indian woman to do so. In a domain historically dominated by men, Pallavi Vyas has broken stereotypes and built a business model that is both modern and deeply Indian in ethos.
Recognitions and Global Representation
Pallavi’s pioneering work has earned her national and international acclaim. She is a proud alumna of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Program (NSRCEL, IIM Bangalore) and has represented India at several prestigious global forums, such as:
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Asia Expo 2024 in Sochi, Russia
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MSME Delegation to Slovenia (2022)
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Select USA Program
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8th European Congress for SMEs (Poland, 2018)
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Collaborations with the Embassy of the Netherlands and Rabo Bank
Her accolades include:
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Narayani Namah Award by Honorable CM of Madhya Pradesh
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Naari Shakti Award by India SME Forum
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India SME 100 Award
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India Achievers Award (2019)
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Best Startup Award by IIM & IIT Indore
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Women & Business Award by Indo Global SME Chamber
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Excellence in Pure Cow Milk Supply by 94.3 My FM on World Milk Day 2022
A Visionary Woman Entrepreneur
Pallavi Vyas is not just an entrepreneur, she is a symbol of rural transformation, scientific innovation, and women’s empowerment in Indian agriculture. Through Shanta Farms, she has successfully merged traditional dairy practices with cutting-edge nutritional science, positively impacting tens of thousands of lives.
Her inclusion in the Global Farmer Business Network (GFBN) underscores her significance in shaping the future of ethical farming and rural entrepreneurship in India. She continues to inspire a new generation of farmers and agripreneurs to build businesses that are profitable, sustainable, and people-first.
Note: Global Farmer Business Network (GFBN) is a dynamic platform where agricultural professionals—farmer entrepreneurs, innovators, buyers, investors, and policymakers - converge to share knowledge, experiences, and scale their businesses. Powered by Krishi Jagran, GFBN facilitates meaningful connections and collaborative learning opportunities that drive agricultural innovation and sustainable development through shared expertise. Join GFBN today: https://millionairefarmer.in/gfbn
