Shashi Kumar, Founder & CEO of Akshayakalpa Organic

Shashi Kumar, Founder & CEO of Akshayakalpa Organic

• Background: Shashi came from a farming family and witnessed the struggles of making farming viable.
• Initial Conversations: Along with a group from Wipro, they discussed overhauling traditional farming practices.

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Welcome back to another enlightening episode of The Brand Called You (TBCY). Today, our host Ashutosh Garg engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Shashi Kumar, the visionary Founder and CEO of Akshayakalpa Organic. Shashi shares his remarkable journey from a tech career to revolutionizing organic dairy farming in India.

[00:00:08] What inspired Shashi Kumar to leave technology for organic dairy farming?

• Background: Shashi came from a farming family and witnessed the struggles of making farming viable.
• Initial Conversations: Along with a group from Wipro, they discussed overhauling traditional farming practices.
• Accidental Journey: Became an engineer at the cusp of the technology revolution, which influenced his outlook on farming.
• Fundamental Idea: Focused on making farming profitable and sustainable by managing small problems like soil management.

[00:04:13] Role of Dr. GNS Reddy in shaping Akshayakalpa’s mission

• Initial Connect: Dr. Reddy approached them in 2001, suggesting funds for an initiative called Yuva Chetana.
• Fundraising: Their Wipro group contributed monthly for ten years to this initiative.
• Inspiration: Dr. Reddy inspired them to take concrete steps in changing farming by focusing on empowering young farmers.

[00:06:02] How does Akshayakalpa empower small and marginal farmers?

• Redefining Farming: Moved away from input-driven farming to a more sustainable and diverse model.
• Ecological Sensitivity: Focus on maintaining soil health through proper manure and inputs like chicken poop for nitrogen.
• Diversifying Farms: Introduced multiple market-facing entities, including dairy, beekeeping, and vegetable farming.

[00:12:28] How is Akshayakalpa different from conventional dairy farming organizations?

• Cow Management: Ensures cows are never tethered and are fed nutritiously.
• Antibiotic-Free Milk: Minimizes antibiotic usage, ensuring healthier milk.
• Immediate Chilling: Milk is chilled immediately post-milking to maintain nutritional value and prevent contamination.

[00:14:18] Ensuring the quality and nutritional value of organic milk

• Animal Nutrition: Emphasizes the growth of nutrition within the farm.
• Antibiotic Avoidance: Milk is free from antibiotics and aflatoxins, ensuring higher nutritional quality.
• Hygienic Milking: Mandates machine milking and immediate chilling of milk.

[00:17:39] Customer reactions to Akshayakalpa’s organic milk

• Customer Visits: Akshayakalpa encourages customers to visit farms to witness the process.
• Positive Feedback: The transparency and quality have converted many early skeptics into lifelong customers.

[00:20:32] Belief in material well-being as every farmer’s birthright

• Farmer Income: Ensures farmers earn a minimum of 100,000 rupees within two years of onboarding.
• No Sales Targets: Focuses on development rather than selling products to farmers.
• Engagement: Marketing teams engage directly with farmers and consumers to tackle challenges collaboratively.

[00:22:26] Balancing simplicity in personal life with running a large organization

• Personal Choices: Shashi leads by example, endorsing simplicity and minimalism.
• Use of Public Transport: Encourages the use of trains and public transport within the organization.
• Living Humbly: Implements a policy of minimal personal expenditures and prioritizing resourcefulness.

Conclusion

Shashi Kumar’s journey showcases a meticulous blend of innovation, empathy, and the drive to bring about real change in the agricultural sector. Under the guidance and vision of leaders like him and Dr. GNS Reddy, Akshayakalpa has emerged as a beacon of sustainable and profitable farming. Their holistic approach covers everything from soil management to the well-being of the farmers, making it a pioneering model of modern agriculture.

RESOURCES:

Learn more about Shashi Kumar : Linkedin 

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• Background: Shashi came from a farming family and witnessed the struggles of making farming viable.
• Initial Conversations: Along with a group from Wipro, they discussed overhauling traditional farming practices.