Aseem Rawat of Ghaziabad district, Uttar Pradesh, made a bold decision to establish a business focused on dairy farming with indigenous cows. Leaving a well-paid job and choosing a whole new and unknown path takes a lot of courage. After working in the IT sector for 14 years, he said goodbye to his job as a successful software engineer and devoted himself entirely to dairy farming based on indigenous cows.
Today, his organization, Hetha Organic, has not only become a well-known brand in the country but also has an annual turnover of over Rs 10 crore. With over 1,100 cows, 130 products, 5 farm locations, and over 110 employees, Hetha Organic has become a living example of indigenous innovation. So, let's dive deep into the success story of the dairy farmer Aseem Rawat.
Journey From Software to Self-employment
Aseem Rawat was born into a typical middle-class family where a government or private job is generally considered the goal in life. His father, being an engineer, also shaped a clear goal in his mind. That same thinking was reflected in his life. After receiving a good education, he chose software engineering and had the opportunity to work in metropolitan cities like Kolkata and Bengaluru, as well as abroad. After gaining knowledge and experience, he still felt a void in his heart. He began to feel that life was not just about working, earning money, and being caught up in the daily routine.
How a TV Program Changed His Mind
The biggest change in his thinking came when he saw a TV debate on indigenous cows. One side argued that indigenous cows were not suitable for dairy farming because they produced less milk. According to them, dairies could only be successfully run with buffaloes and foreign breeds. The other side emphasized their religious, cultural, and medicinal properties. This debate had a deep impact on his mind, as he had always read and heard since childhood that cows were the embodiment of the goddess Lakshmi and were the backbone of our economy. However, the findings of that program were completely contrary to his beliefs.
So he thought, “It’s the time for action.” He decided to prove that a successful and profitable dairy business could be run using indigenous cows.
Beyond Family’s Expectations and Fears
When Aseem Rawat told his family about his plan to start a desi cow dairy farming business, they were very concerned. Their biggest concern was how a software engineer could raise cows. Furthermore, the dairy sector was relatively new compared to the software industry. They couldn’t understand this, but Aseem not only convinced them, he also bought two desi cows and started working. This was just the start of Hetha Organic and its success.
Establishment and Purpose of Hetha Organic
Hetha Organic was founded in December 2015, just a week before the ‘Startup India’ initiative was announced. Aseem said that if the scheme had been introduced a few days earlier, he might have reaped some benefits, but he started on his own without any assistance. Hetha’s Purpose:
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Promotion of indigenous cow breeds
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Production of pure and medicinal milk and dairy products
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Transforming Indian agriculture-based tradition into a business
A Learning Journey Across India
When Aseem decided to start a dairy business based on indigenous cows, he traveled to various states across the country to find out if any successful business models already existed. He was disappointed because most dairies relied on hybrid breeds or indigenous buffaloes. While indigenous breeds were being raised as a hobby in some places, there was no business model that relied solely on indigenous cows. He began experimenting on his own, taking risks, and building a model.
His Work on Indigenous Breeds of Cows
Today Hetha Organics works exclusively on four breeds of indigenous cows:
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Gir – Famous breed of Gujarat, gives good quantity of milk
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Tharparkar – Rajasthan breed, high tolerance to heat
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Sahiwal - a breed from Punjab, of high quality and medicinal properties
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Badri – Local hill breed of Uttarakhand, low in milk but rich in medicinal properties
Hetha has 5 farm locations including three farms in Champawat district of Uttarakhand and two farms in Ghaziabad and Bulandshahr of Uttar Pradesh.
Difficulties and Self-doubt
Aseem Rawat faced several challenges when starting Hetha:
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Financial pressure: After leaving his job, there was no fixed source of income.
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Building the team: Finding the right people, training them, and paying them was a big task.
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Convincing customers: Convincing people that desi cow’s milk and products made from their milk have several health benefits, so it is natural for them to be a little more expensive.
But he overcame all these difficulties with his determination and patience.
130+ Products and a Nationwide Sales Network
Today, Hetha Organic manufactures over 130 natural products. They sell all of these products on their website, hetha.in, as well as on e-commerce sites like Amazon and Flipkart. They have gained nationwide recognition for their pure products.
Rs 10 Crore Turnover and a Team of 110+ Employees
Today, Hetha Organic has an annual turnover of over Rs 10 crore. The organization employs over 110 people, including farm workers, production staff, marketing, and technical experts. This is not just an economic achievement but also an example of promoting rural employment and agriculture-based industry.
National and State Level Awards
Hetha Organic has been honored with numerous awards at the national and state levels, including the National Gopal Ratna Award. These awards have further strengthened the organization's reputation and validated Aseem Rawat's vision.
His Future Plans
Aseem Rawat's success is rooted in his deep belief in indigenous cows, and he believes this will remain his focus going forward. He plans to add more breeds to the four breeds he currently works with. This expansion will allow him to increase the variety of products from indigenous cows.
