A New Life in Japan: Infosys Engineer Swaps Corporate Life for Farm, Finds Success with Brinjal Farming

Venkatasamy Vignesh, a former Infosys employee, decided to quit his job and pursue a career in farming in Japan. Vignesh used to earn Rs 40,000 at Infosys, but he now makes double that amount from farming in Japan. The risky move has only rewarded him so far.

Vignesh realized that farming was his true calling after he started helping his parents with their farms during the COVID-19 pandemic-induced lockdown. However, his parents were hesitant to support his idea of quitting his stable job at Infosys. He was determined to pursue his passion and enrolled at Chennai-based Nihon Edutech, which trains people in Japanese culture and language before helping them get placed in the country.

Japan has a demand for farmers due to its ageing population, and the younger population's lack of interest in agriculture. Vignesh travelled to Japan after finishing his training in six months to work at a brinjal farm in the country's Kochi region. After two years, Vignesh earns Rs 80,000 after tax deductions and lives for free in the corporate quarters. Nevertheless, he does have to take care of his food requirements.

His job at the Brinjal farm includes caring for the crops as well as harvesting, cleaning, and processing them when they are ready. According to him, much of the farming labour there is mechanised, reducing the need for manual labour. He plans on returning to India with his learnings and introducing innovative methods of farming in the country.

Vignesh's family is now supportive of his decision after realizing that he is making more money in the agricultural industry than in his previous job at Infosys. They are also proud of him for planning to return and share his experiences with them.

His journey is indeed daring and not something everyone could choose to do. However, it highlights the importance of pursuing one's passion and the potential rewards that can come from taking a calculated risk.