Soil to Solar: A Rural Woman’s Inspiring Entrepreneurial Journey

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One meeting, and a new door to business opened. Yogita Sahane, a homemaker managing farming and family life, found a new identity through a solar dryer, proving that one right decision can change a life!

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At the age of 21, in 2013, she married Praveen Sahane from a farming family in Odha. After moving to her in-laws' house, she didn't limit herself to just household chores but worked alongside her husband, shoulder to shoulder, on the farm. She helped her husband with all the small and big tasks, from managing farm laborers to other duties. Their family was happy and content, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, they too faced a financial crisis. In this situation, she strongly felt the need for a side business to supplement their farming income. This need sowed the seed for doing something new in her mind. Despite having a good education, Yogita didn't want a job. She wanted to do something related to farming to increase their agricultural income. With this in mind, she considered options like dairy farming and poultry, but they weren't feasible for various reasons. It was during this time, on a visit to Sahyadri Farms, that she saw "Solar Dried Products," which sparked her curiosity about this business.

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She gathered more information, discussed it with experts, and gained in-depth knowledge about the 'solar dryer.' She examined all aspects of the business, worked out the financial calculations, and after fulfilling all the necessary requirements, she installed her own solar dryer in December 2024. The total cost for the solar dryer was ₹12 lakh. For this, she took a loan of ₹5 lakh from a bank and also received a grant from the Central Government's PMFME scheme.

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The beginning, however, was not easy. In her first attempt, she put tomatoes in to dry, but a sudden change in weather spoiled 70% of her produce. Instead of getting discouraged by this huge loss, Yogita decided to learn from the experience. She completed a 10-day solar dryer business management training course at Sahyadri Farms. With the knowledge gained from the training, guidance from experienced dryer operators, and her own observations, she began to study weather changes. She identified where she went wrong and made a proper plan to avoid it next time. Her perseverance and hard work paid off soon. Now, she can predict the weather accurately and produce high-quality goods. She proudly says that her B.Com education helps her manage the business's finances.

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In just five months, Yogita has dried 2,904 kg of various products like ginger, tomatoes, raisins, and mint using her solar dryer, generating a turnover of ₹5.33 lakh and a profit of ₹2.15 lakh. At the same time, she is regularly repaying the bank loan she took. "There are many opportunities in the dryer business, and this is just the beginning," she says confidently.

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Yogita Sahane's story is a great example of how a common homemaker can become a successful entrepreneur with willpower, hard work, and proper planning. She has proven that by turning challenges into opportunities and using one's knowledge effectively, success can be achieved in any situation.

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