Graduate Farmer, a startup founded by lawyer-turned-entrepreneur Bapan Das in Assam, has transformed small-scale poultry farming into a thriving business, benefiting both farmers and consumers by promoting antibiotic-free feed.
A soft chorale greets visitors outside homemaker Archana Das’ home in the tranquil farming village of Jijiga, located in the lush, forested southern reaches of Assam’s Cachar district, where the Jiri river flows and life is typically laid-back.
However, stepping over the threshold of a 50-square-foot coop behind her house reveals a lively scene. The sound grows electric with the distinct chirping of over 1,000 young broiler chickens pecking at grain, moving around and playing their favourite game: worm running. In this chicken sport, one bird grabs a small object and dashes off, prompting others to chase it.
Movement, it turns out, makes the birds healthier and may even lead to better-tasting chicken on the consumer’s plate. At night, chickens roost placidly on platforms that run along the walls.
Life flows as gently as the Jiri, except during the monsoon when the river that marks the border between Assam and Manipur swells and breaches its banks. Amidst this serene yet occasionally tumultuous setting, Archana and a collective named Graduate Farmer are quietly revolutionising the poultry industry with their commitment to raising a better bird, and setting a new standard for rural entrepreneurship and sustainable farming.
In this backcountry, where one bad harvest can ruin a family, people live on the edge of financial ruin with no margin for error or bad luck. Here, everything goes towards the bare basics: food and clothing.
Archana’s journey is one of transformation. She gives her chickens a special blend of feed crafted from recycled food waste and minerals sourced from plants or animals — completely free of the antibiotics commonly used in poultry farming.
In May this year, Archana sold chickens and earned Rs 40,000, splitting a profit of Rs 10,000 with Bapan Das, a lawyer-turned-entrepreneur who has been a pivotal figure in her success.
Bapan heads Graduate Farmer, a startup instrumental in helping farmers like Archana transition to antibiotic-free poultry farming, boosting their income and ensuring a healthier product for consumers.
Until she received help from Graduate Farmer, Archana had only 100 chickens in her coop. Bapan provided the remaining investment needed for 900 chickens and the cost of antibiotic-free poultry feed, totalling Rs 2.8 lakh.
“Out of this amount, more than Rs 2 lakh came either from sales or profit split with about nearly 500 farmers,” he said.
The name, Graduate Farmer, reflects the educational background of its founders and staff, who come from various fields such as engineering, commerce and law. Bapan, along with co-founder Shamim Choudhry, started the initiative during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 with the mission to rejuvenate agriculture in the Barak Valley and instil confidence in local youth and farmers who were migrating to cities in search of better livelihood.
“Farming used to be sustainable decades ago, but now unseasonal rainfall and extreme heat have made it difficult for farmers to achieve the same yields. They lack awareness of customer demand and market rates, prompting many to abandon farming and move to cities. Even their children no longer show interest in farming,” Bapan said.
His vision is ambitious. “There is an opportunity to build a Rs 650-crore egg business in Assam. Barak Valley has a population of 45 lakh. And it is sad that we don’t even produce 10 percent of the eggs,” he said.
Bapan’s firm champions antibiotic-free poultry farming, sourcing feed from sustainable materials like water hyacinth, recycled food waste and snail shells obtained from local fisheries. This approach addresses the problem of antibiotic resistance in humans and also offers a healthier alternative for consumers.
Archana’s story is emblematic of the broader impact of Bapan’s efforts. Previously, she would earn Rs 20,000 after six months of hard work, often taking Rs 40,000 on credit from local shopkeepers. Now, she earns Rs 40,000 every month, splitting the profit with Bapan, and has managed to refurbish her home from her increased earnings. “On average, my profit margin from the business is Rs 1.20 lakh a year,” she said.
Graduate Farmer helps farmers like Archana increase their income and also provides a safety net against losses. If a farmer faces a loss, the firm facilitates the purchase of new stock, allowing the farmer to recover a portion of the loss over multiple sales.
“When farmers claim for insurance, authorities ask for several documents and data, which is difficult for a farmer who has invested only Rs 5,000 in the business. We ask them to buy the product again, giving them the opportunity to recover the loss across 10 chances,” Bapan explained.
By skipping the middlemen, Bapan’s initiative ensures farmers get better rates for their products. “Farmers would produce and have a middleman stack their farm yields who would settle them at lower rates,” he said. Now, most products are sold directly to customers, both online and offline, providing farmers with better returns.
Graduate Farmer began with an investment of Rs 1 lakh in 2020 and achieved a turnover of Rs 1 crore last year. The firm continues to explore other sustainable farming practices, such as rooftop cultivation and various ethical alternatives, striving to create a prosperous agricultural community in Assam.
The lead image on top shows Bapan Das beside a chicken farm that uses no antibiotics. (Photo courtesy Bapan Das)
Aatreyee Dhar is a Village Square Fellow 2023-24. She works as an independent journalist in Assam.
