In 2017, Chetan Shetty left his eight-year career in the corporate sector in Bengaluru and returned to Bellare, near Mangaluru, deciding to choose the ancestral farm over guaranteed city employment.
Previously, he used to spend holidays on his grandparents' farm, playing among rice fields and areca palm trees. He recalls that spending a whole day on the farm was very enjoyable.
Before leaving his job, Chetan wanted to ensure that agriculture was truly suitable for him. He started growing mushrooms in his rented apartment, using a small gas stove to prepare straw. He then conducted turmeric experiments on the ancestral lands and harvested about 3000 kg. This good result gave him confidence in taking farming seriously and allowed him to make a decisive step.
He prepared his 10-acre ancestral farm, drilled a new well, and planted 550 rambutan trees, 50 mangosteen trees, and 100 young coconut palms, as well as vegetables. Since fruit trees require time to mature, Chetan grew bananas and areca nuts as interim crops to cover expenses. He had already spent his savings, which made the wait even more difficult.
Ultimately, rambutan became the main source of income. Chetan recalls this turning point, saying: 'We used the income from selling rambutan to build a house in the village.'
The Manjanna Shetty Family Farms includes over 2500 areca palm trees, 800 chili vines, 50 nutmeg trees, 300 coconut trees, 650 rambutan trees, over 100 mangosteen trees, and 50 avocado plants.
In 2022 (according to the March 2023 report), Chetan reported that the family earned 15 lakh rupees by selling nearly 5200 kg of produce to traders and retailers across India.
Initially, his father hesitated when telling people that his son had left his city job to become a farmer. Now, however, he says: 'I am happy to see him working on the farm.'
Chetan emphasizes that it is not just about money. 'It's about how satisfied you are with any work you do,' he says. For him, farming brought something that his corporate career could not provide. He adds: 'Here we don't have to prove anything to anyone. I find peace in what I am doing now.' His workday starts and ends on the farm he previously only visited during holidays.