Amrita Bharti’s story is one of courage, vision, and unrelenting spirit. Hailing from Jamshedpur and now settled in Pune, she spent many years abroad before returning to India with a dream. Despite her extensive corporate experience, she felt unfulfilled and yearned for a life rooted in purpose and self-reliance. She explored various ventures, beauty pageants, artistry, and more but none satisfied her inner calling. Her heart was set on doing something that nurtured both her soul and the environment.
Planting Dreams in a Balcony Garden
The turning point came when she began cultivating plants in her modest 100-square-foot city balcony. Over time, she grew more than 500 plants, showcasing her innate green thumb. Her dedication and creativity earned her the ‘Best Balcony Garden in India’ award. This recognition led her to dream bigger, if she could achieve this in such a limited space, what could she do with open land?
Hariyali Farms: A Green Vision Comes to Life
In 2021, Amrita launched Hariyali Farms on two acres of land, despite having no formal agricultural training. With determination, she acquired knowledge from various sources and immersed herself in hands-on learning. She envisioned a farm that wasn’t just a place for cultivation but also a sanctuary for urbanites seeking an escape into rural serenity. Recognizing how disconnected city dwellers were from nature, she curated a space where visitors could breathe fresh air, engage in farming, and reconnect with the land.
To strengthen her initiative, Amrita underwent formal training in agri-tourism and became a certified Agri-Tourism Centre under the Maharashtra Government. Her mission: to educate, inspire, and provide city folks a chance to experience the rhythms of farm life.
Organic, Seasonal, and Sensible Farming
Hariyali Farms follows an organic and seasonal farming model. During the monsoon, Amrita cultivates the fragrant Indrayani rice on 1.5 acres, yielding over 1 tonne annually. This unpolished rice is served to guests and used for personal consumption, reinforcing her farm-to-table concept. In the winter, she grows wheat, mustard, maize, sugarcane, green and black chana, and a vibrant array of both native and exotic vegetables.
Visitors can buy fresh produce or enjoy it as part of curated farm meals. Her focus is not just on revenue, but on creating authentic experiences around sustainability.
In summer, Amrita grows sunflowers and cold-presses around 600–700 kilograms of seeds to extract oil. These organic products are sold at premium prices, sustaining both her farm operations and reputation for purity.
A Closed-Loop, Eco-Friendly Model
One of the defining features of Hariyali Farms is its closed-loop ecosystem. Amrita steers clear of chemical fertilizers. Instead, she makes her own organic compost using waste from farm animals, cows, goats, rabbits, ducks, chickens, and guinea pigs. This not only reduces dependency on external inputs but also enriches the soil, ensuring the farm remains fertile and sustainable.
Overcoming Adversity with Grit
Amrita’s journey was far from easy. As a woman and a non-Maharashtrian entering a traditional village setting, she faced suspicion, resistance, and even hostility. In one harrowing incident, she was blocked and harassed by a group of locals during an evening drive. Alone but undeterred, she stood her ground, recorded the altercation, and defused the situation herself.
She endured further isolation, living without electricity for nearly a month during the monsoons. Her husband and children remained in Pune due to work and education, leaving her to single-handedly manage the farm. She also faced ridicule when she attempted to drive a tractor, a task many deemed unfit for a woman. But when she succeeded, even her critics applauded her courage.
Over time, her persistence began to win over the local community. From doubters to supporters, many villagers now look up to her and consult her for guidance.
Achievements and Recognition
Amrita’s commitment to sustainable agriculture has garnered national acclaim. Hariyali Farms was featured on DD Kisan as one of India’s rising agricultural startups. She also received the prestigious ‘Millionaire Farmer of India Award’ from Krishi Jagran, recognizing her innovative contributions to agri-tourism and organic farming.
Experience, Educate, Empower
Amrita doesn’t just run a farm, she curates a holistic rural experience. Her guests are encouraged to participate in farming, taste chemical-free produce, and learn about organic practices. Her goal is to cultivate not only crops but also consciousness around the importance of sustainability.
Her approach bridges the rural-urban divide and plants seeds of change in the minds of those who visit. Through these immersive experiences, she fosters appreciation for slow, mindful living and the labour behind the food we consume.
A Beacon for the Future
Today, Amrita Bharti stands as a shining example of perseverance, vision, and the power of purpose. Her transformation from a corporate employee to a nationally recognised organic farmer and agri-tourism entrepreneur is proof that passion backed by action can yield extraordinary results.
She continues to diversify her farm offerings and aims to mentor other aspiring farmers, particularly women, to embrace sustainable agriculture. As she wisely says, “We have to be strong and focused, not distracted by the noise.”
Amrita Bharti is not merely growing food, she is growing awareness, confidence, and a more sustainable future. Her story makes her a perfect fit for initiatives like the Global Farmer Business Network, where innovation, resilience, and environmental stewardship take centre stage.
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
