Microgreens, which are very young shoots of vegetables and herbs harvested shortly after sprouting from seeds, are in growing demand among health-conscious individuals. Despite their small size, microgreens are considered rich in nutrients. It was this growing market that attracted Mohit Nijwan's attention.
Mohit decided to leave his corporate position with an annual package of about 90 lakhs to pursue an agricultural business. He started working with microgreens, focusing on natural nutrition, in December 2020. However, his first venture could not last long, and he had to close it after issues with a partner. Nevertheless, Mohit did not give up and resumed operations in May 2022, starting with a rented space of only 100 square feet in Chandigarh.
His initial capital was not large; he set up his in-house microgreen farm using shelves, trays, grow lights, and seeds, investing only 30,000 rupees. Initially, Mohit focused on approximately 21 organic varieties of microgreens, paying special attention to producing GMO-free and pesticide-free products. Gradually, the number of customers grew, and the small 100-square-foot setup began to expand. According to company information, his setup has now reached an area of about 500 square feet and includes approximately 60 shelves, allowing for the production of about 12,000 trays monthly. The cost of one tray is estimated at around 200 rupees.
Mohit's brand is called 'Greenu' and operates under Embryonic Greens Private Limited. The company claims its monthly turnover is about 12 lakh rupees, leading to a stated annual turnover of approximately 1.44 crore rupees, and an annual profit of about 60 lakh rupees. It is important to note that these figures are company statements and should not be considered independently verified data.
Greenu's customer base includes not only health-conscious people. The company reports that its microgreens are supplied to restaurants, cafes, gyms, and some healthcare specialists. To maintain the freshness of the microgreens, the company sometimes delivers them to customers along with roots. Organic growing media such as coco peat and coconut fiber are used in production. Cultivation is carried out indoors under controlled temperature, humidity, and air circulation.
Mohit did not limit himself to selling only microgreens. The company also assists in establishing franchise outlets by offering training, kits, and seeds. According to website data, he has trained over 300 farmers and new entrepreneurs across the country. Furthermore, work has been done to establish franchises in cities such as Ambala, Gurugram, Mohali, and Panchkula. Thus, the journey that started with 30,000 rupees has transformed not just into an agricultural business, but into a comprehensive system that includes production, direct sales, training, kits, and franchising.
