Degrees in Dairy, from B.Tech and MBA to Dairy Farming Success: Unconventional Journey into Dairy Farming

In the heart of Vijayapura city, Karnataka, two unconventional heroes, Rizwan Jahagirdar and MS Sangamesh, have been charting a unique path. Armed with engineering and MBA degrees, respectively, they've ventured into a sector that has removed them from their educational backgrounds.

Each day dawns with unwavering dedication as Rizwan and Sangamesh embark on their labor-intensive journey, tending to cows and buffaloes, skillfully milking them, and preparing the milk for distribution to their eager customers.

For Rizwan, the transition into dairy farming marked a significant shift from his B.Tech engineering background. The journey wasn't without its challenges, but Rizwan's profound passion for agriculture made the transition feel like a natural progression. Likewise, Sangamesh, holding an MBA degree and having previously worked in the corporate sector, decided to take the plunge into dairy farming. It's a career path that contrasts with the corporate life he left behind in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, after working for a solar power company. Circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic prompted Sangamesh's return to Vijayapura, where he was determined to forge a different future.

For Rizwan, his farming journey had its roots in a relentless pursuit of excellence. Following stints in various companies in Bengaluru and Delhi after completing his B.Tech, he faced challenges in the corporate world that eventually led him to rethink his career choices. A desire to achieve something substantial and a familial connection to farmland near Vijayapura catalyzed his shift to agriculture. Initially, Rizwan ventured into goat farming but grappled with it due to a lack of available labor to care for the animals. Therefore, he made the bold decision to delve into dairy farming.

Today, Rizwan has approximately 50 cows and buffaloes sheltered in a village shed. He skillfully extracts over 100 liters of milk daily to fulfill his customers' needs. To streamline the dairy's operations, Rizwan employs six dedicated workers who manage the collection and distribution of the milk. Beyond milk production, Rizwan plays an essential role in providing local farmers with organic manure in the form of dung, enriching their crops, and particularly beneficial for grape cultivation.

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Sangamesh's journey in dairy farming is a more recent one, commencing two years ago in Vijayapura city. His career trajectory had seen him move from his MBA graduation to corporate roles in the solar power and private sectors. Sangamesh's return to Vijayapura during the pandemic led him to question his career choices. Driven by a desire for more autonomy, he began exploring diverse career options, ultimately settling on dairy farming. He recognized the timeless importance of milk as a commodity and decided to seize the opportunity it presented.

Presently, Sangamesh manages around 16 cattle, yielding roughly 50 liters of milk daily to cater to his loyal customer base. What sets him apart from Rizwan is the strong involvement of his entire family in the dairy operations. While Rizwan relies on his workers to supply milk to customers, Sangamesh's clients come to his residence daily to collect their milk directly.

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Both these enterprising graduates share a common belief in the transformative power of educated individuals in the farming sector. They recognize that their education equips them with valuable knowledge and fresh perspectives, which can enhance and modernize the dairy industry. They emphasize that dairy farming provides not only a sustainable future but also generates indirect employment opportunities, thereby encouraging young, educated individuals to participate in this noble occupation. They hope that the youth will shed any stereotypes associated with farming, recognizing it as an honorable and viable career option.

Rizwan also extends a thoughtful recommendation to the government. He suggests the encouragement of at least two individuals in each village to establish their dairy units. This approach would not only create a consistent income source for these individuals but also facilitate local fodder sales, thus mutually benefiting farmers and the dairy sector as a whole.

Amid the agrarian renaissance brought about by Rizwan and Sangamesh, their shared belief in the potential of educated youth in agriculture illuminates a path of progress, one that thrives on innovation and transformative change, all within the timeless embrace of dairy farming.

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