Sagar Hattikal, a young farmer from Karnataka’s Konchigeri Gadag district, made a remarkable career shift in just five years from being a mechanical engineer to a prosperous farmer. He transformed his 40-acre dryland farm into a thriving, sustainable enterprise by adopting eco-friendly practices and diversifying his agricultural ventures.
Starting with dairy farming, Sagar produced high-quality butter and ghee before expanding into premium guavas, organic crops, and environmentally-conscious products, all while ensuring long-term sustainability and profitability.
From Corporate Life to Agriculture
Sagar’s father was a government employee in Karnataka tourism so he had to move from his ancestral land since childhood, he has had a keen interest in agricultural activities but life had other plans for him. Fast forward, Sagar worked as a mechanical engineer for eight years and resigned from the reputed company from the managerial post before venturing into farming.
Though he always had a passion for agriculture, family responsibilities kept him in the corporate sector. In 2020, after his siblings completed their education and his father retired, he decided to leave his job and focus on farming on his ancestral land in Gadag district, Karnataka. He turned his passion into a profession literally.
Starting with Dairy Farming
Sagar started his farming journey with two desi cows in Dharwad. He initially sold milk to professors at a local agriculture university. However, in the summer when professors went on vacation his demand dropped during vacations, he explored other ways to use the milk and learned about A1 milk ghee and butter. He started making A1 milk ghee and butter, which became very popular in local and international markets.
Today, he owns 21 cows of indigenous breeds such as Gir, Hallikar, Malnad Gidda, Rathi, and Amritmahal. These cows produce nutritious milk, and their dung is used to turn into Ghana Jeevamrit, an organic fertilizer that provides extra income and also promotes eco-friendly farming.
Turning Dry Land into a Green Paradise
Sagar went back to his ancestral farm where he faced a big challenge with his dry ancestral land, which had limited water resources. With only a two-inch borewell, he introduced drip irrigation on nine acres to conserve water. He planted crops in rotation to make the soil healthier and fertile.
He incorporates the crop according to the seasons due to the land is dry so he only grows suitable crops like varieties of millets which are drought tolerant too. The main crops which he grows are:
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Kharif Season (Monsoon season): Maize, moong dal, and toor dal.
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Rabi Season (winter season): Cowpea and horse gram.
Adding Orchards and Border Crops
Sagar dedicated three acres of irrigated land to grow plantation crops like coconuts and in between the space he sown trees of guavas (Lucknow and Taiwan Pink varieties), and curry plants to further boost his income. He sold curry leaves weekly in the weekly market, and this gave him a steady income.
For long-term benefits, he planted Mahogany and Teak trees as border crops along the borders of his land. These enhance biodiversity and are sure to bring good returns in the future as well.
Sagar now earns an annual profit of Rs 9.5–10 lakh through his efforts. His success comes from a mix of innovative farming, value-added dairy products, and efficient water management. He is giving his success credit to his supportive wife with her motivation he has reached this far. She is also a B.com graduate.
A Message for Farmers
Sagar encourages farmers to reduce their dependency on expensive seeds and chemical fertilizers. He believes every farmer should rear at least one desi cow, which can provide milk for the family and organic manure for the fields. He also advises farmers to diversify their activities, such as adding value to their produce, breeding animals, or starting small-scale fisheries, to ensure steady incomes.
