Who are Gauri & Dilip Parab?
Background & Journey
- From IT to Agriculture
Gauri and Dilip were software engineers at L&T Infotech in Mumbai. Driven by a deep longing to return to their roots in the Konkan region, they embraced a bold shift in lifestyle and career, leaving behind corporate life in 2021.
At a Glance: Gauri & Dilip Parab’s Journey
| Aspect | Details |
| Background | Ex-IT professionals, returned to Konkan in 2021 |
| Location | Sindhudurg, Maharashtra |
| Land | Began with 1 acre, expanded to 8 acres |
| Crop | Organic lemongrass |
| Products | Lemongrass oil, handcrafted soaps, herbal floor cleaner |
| Employment Impact | Engaged and empowered local women |
| Annual Turnover | ₹30 lakh |
| Market Outlook | Substantial global demand for essential oils |
- Starting with a Vision
They purchased about six acres of forested land in Tithavli village, Vaibhavwadi Taluka, Sindhudurg District. Beginning with just one acre, they expanded their venture to eight acres over time. - Farming & Products
Gauri & Dilip Parab
- Lemongrass Farming & Harvesting
Choosing lemongrass due to its suitability to the Konkan climate, they established an organic farming process. It’s a resilient crop that thrives through summer, monsoon, and winter—harvestable three to four times a year.
In recent times, many private employees, especially software engineers, are leaving computers and becoming farmers. Software engineers who have become breadwinners are earning lakhs and crores. A couple of software engineers have also left their jobs with good packages and taken up farming. That too with lemongrass farming. Earning Rs. 30 lakhs per year, they have become a guide for today’s generation.
Gauri and Dilip Parab, a couple from the Konkan area of Maharashtra, are software employees by profession. They worked as software engineers in L & T Infotech in Mumbai. The salary was good. But they decided to come to their hometown. That too to do agriculture. With this, the two resigned from their jobs and returned to Konkan.
They bought six acres of land in Titavli village of Sindhudurg district. In 2021, they started cultivating lemongrass on that land. Because no one in that area was cultivating lemongrass. There was also a huge demand for it in the market. The climatic conditions in the Konkan area are also favorable for lemongrass cultivation, so we have started growing lemongrass, said Dilip.
Lemongrass oil exported to 80 countries
Lemongrass can be cultivated three times a year. Many types of products can be made from cut lemongrass. Lemongrass is especially used for organic products. Lemongrass and the oil made from it are widely used in cosmetic, pharmaceutical, food and beverage products. Due to this, there is a huge demand for it. India is number one in lemongrass cultivation. Moreover, it exports lemongrass oil to 80 countries. It mainly exports to North America, Europe and Asian countries, said Dilip and his wife.
Up to 25,000 plants in one acre of field
When we wanted to cultivate lemongrass, we chose the Krishna variety. We bought each plant for Rs. 2.5. Dilip said that they were purchased from a nursery in Hyderabad. Up to 25,000 plants were planted in one acre of land. They planned to keep a distance of one foot between each row. Care was taken to keep a distance of 1.5 feet between plants. This cultivation, which initially started in one acre of land, has now reached eight acres. Of this, six acres are owned and the other two acres are leased, said Gauri.
Rs. 30 lakhs income per year.
The first crop was harvested in four months. The lemongrass is harvested once every 90 days. Dilip said that this lemongrass can be easily cultivated three times a year. A small unit has also been set up to extract this sap. Using modern machinery, lemongrass is extracted and oil is made. Soaps are made with this oil and herbal floor cleaner is also being made. Each liter of oil is sold for Rs. 850 to Rs. 1500. Gauri said that the price is determined based on demand. She said that she earns Rs. 30 lakhs per year.
8 liters of oil from one ton of lemongrass
One ton of lemongrass can produce 8 liters of oil. In the dry season, up to 10 liters of oil can be produced. In the rainy season, it is less than 2.5 liters. And in the cold season, only 5 to 6 liters of oil can be produced, the couple said. Up to 18 tons of lemongrass can be cultivated in one acre of land. This means that 126 liters of oil can be produced from lemongrass cultivated in one acre of land, said Gauri and Dilip.
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