Gurmeet Singh was born in a farming family in a small village of Moga district, Punjab. Like the rest in the area, his family lived on the traditional wheat and paddy cropping cycle. However, Gurmeet realized the serious challenges in this model. The yields were low, the crops were water-intensive, and the danger of climate damage was increasing year by year. After completing his studies in 2007, he went back to his village with a firm resolve to revolutionize his family farm. Instead of looking for employment in cities or overseas, he decided to approach farming as a proper business.
First Step: Vegetable Farming on 2.5 Acres
Gurmeet had just 2.5 acres of land initially. He began experimenting with vegetable farming, starting with cauliflower, alongside his existing paddy and wheat crops. Over time, he gradually introduced tomatoes and adopted short-duration Basmati varieties to fit into his crop rotation plan. By carefully planning his seasonal crops and using high-yield hybrid seeds, Gurmeet started earning steady profits throughout the year.
Smart Crop Rotation for Year-round Income
In the winter season from October to February, Gurmeet cultivates hybrid cauliflower varieties such as Snowball, Giriraj, and Pusa Meghna. These varieties mature at different times, so he gets a steady supply in the market by staggered harvesting. He normally gets a yield of 120 to 140 quintals per acre, depending on the season. This crop fetches him alone up to Rs. 1.5 lakh per acre.
As soon as the cauliflower is harvested, he sets the land for tomatoes immediately. He cultivates good-quality hybrid tomatoes from March to June using varieties such as Rani, Yogi and Uphaar. These varieties have a good shelf life, are disease-resistant, and are suitable for various market timings. Based on the season and market price, he gets 700 to 1500 crates per acre, earning from Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 2 lakh per acre.
Once the tomato crop is over, Gurmeet transitions to paddy but instead of the common long-duration rice, he plants short-duration Basmati varieties such as Pusa 1509 or PB-1121. This way, he is able to cut the crop in approximately 110 days, long before the following cauliflower season. Basmati rice fetches him an average of Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 70,000 per acre based on the market price and yield, which normally averages at 60 quintals per acre. He also grows Muskmelon and Watermelon in his farm which helps him to have a different stream of income from his own farm.
Tripling Land Productivity Through Innovation
This well-planned crop rotation model makes sure that his land never remains idle. Rather than two crops per year, Gurmeet now harvests three crops, essentially tripling his land use and income. He makes a net profit of Rs. 2 to Rs. 3 lakh per acre per year after deducting all costs such as seeds, fertilizers, labor, and irrigation.
How Diversification Saved Him from Disaster
Gurmeet's success is not only due to improved seeds or crop selection but also due to intelligent risk management. During the 2023–24 season, an unexpected hailstorm damaged his tomato crop on 11 acres. But due to his diversified strategy, his cauliflower and Basmati rice crops were not affected. He was then able to recover the losses. According to him, diversification is the best insurance for a farmer. When a single crop fails, the revenue from others sustains the farm well.
Future Plans: Drip Irrigation and Exotic Vegetables
Water management is also a critical part of Gurmeet's cultivation. He will implement drip irrigation in the near future to minimize water consumption and lower input expenditure. He also looks at producing exotic vegetables such as coloured capsicum and high-value crops demanded in urban markets.
Inspiring a New Generation of Farmers
Gurmeet today looks after 20 acres of land and is recognized in his area as a model farmer. He periodically advises other farmers, motivating them to shift from monotonous crops like wheat and paddy. He makes them realize the advantages of scientific farming. His message to other farmers is strong and motivating—quit relying solely on wheat and paddy, and conduct farming as a professional enterprise. Employ hybrid seeds, crop rotation, handle risks intelligently, and success shall be yours.
Gurmeet Singh's path from struggling with a mere 2.5 acres to making lakhs a year from 20 acres is an indicator that agriculture if done intelligently, can be one of the most profitable occupations. His story is not merely about farming. It is about perseverance, vision, and the will to transform. It is a message to farmers across the country that if one keeps a positive mindset, plans accordingly, and works hard, even small parcels of land can make one big.
