At the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, while most were trying to simply survive, Kavya Dhobale was making a life-altering decision. A government nurse in Mumbai, Kavya spent months on the frontline, witnessing the immense toll the pandemic took on people’s physical and mental health. But amid the chaos, she found a seed of clarity.

In 2021, she walked away from the stability of her government job and chose a radically different path: organic farming. Today, Kavya runs a successful Rs 30 lakh organic vermicomposting and vegetable farming business in rural Maharashtra, with a mission to heal both people and the planet.

From Scrubs to Soil: A Journey Rooted in Purpose

For years, Kavya had dutifully served in hospitals, putting her own well-being second to her patients. But after seeing so many lives affected by poor immunity, bad diets, and chemical-laden food, something clicked. “I realised health doesn’t begin in hospitals — it begins with what we eat,” she says.

That thought, coupled with the emotional burnout of being a COVID warrior, pushed her to return to her family’s ancestral village in Beed district, Maharashtra. She had no formal training in agriculture, just a conviction: that clean, nutritious food should be a basic right.

Why She Chose Vermicomposting First

Kavya started small — with a few vermicompost pits, earthworms, and plenty of self-learning through YouTube videos, farmer WhatsApp groups, and government webinars. Vermicomposting, a process using worms to convert organic waste into nutrient-rich fertilizer, became her gateway to chemical-free farming.

“I didn’t just want to grow food. I wanted to rebuild the soil — and people’s trust in what they eat,” she explains.

Soon, she began selling high-grade vermicompost to nearby farms, gardeners, and organic growers. Her product gained a reputation for quality, leading to bulk orders from across Maharashtra.

Scaling to a Rs 30 Lakh Business

Within a year, Kavya expanded her landholding to three acres and diversified into seasonal vegetables, pulses, and medicinal herbs — all grown organically. She uses crop rotation, natural pest repellents, and companion planting techniques.

Her revenue streams include:

  • Vermicompost sales (bags of 25 kg and 50 kg)

  • Organic vegetables sold through local farmer markets and online groups

  • Workshops & farm tours for urban families and schools

  • Consulting for aspiring organic farmers

In just two years, her venture has generated a turnover of over Rs 30 lakh, with a growing monthly income of around Rs 2.5 lakh.

Social Impact & Empowering Women

Kavya’s mission extends beyond profit. She employs local women, most of whom were previously unemployed or working as daily wage laborers. They are trained in everything from composting to packaging to sales.

“I want rural women to see farming not as a chore, but as an opportunity to lead.”

She also collaborates with nearby schools to teach children about food systems, composting, and healthy eating.

Kavya’s Organic Farming Principles

Here are a few practices Kavya swears by:

  1. Zero Chemicals: Not even store-bought organic pesticides. Everything used on her farm is homemade — from neem oil sprays to fermented cow dung mixtures.

  2. Local Seeds Only: She preserves heirloom varieties that are climate-resilient and nutritionally rich.

  3. Water Conservation: Drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting are a must in her drought-prone village.

  4. Soil Testing & Rotation: She tests her soil every season and follows rotation cycles to naturally replenish nutrients.

  5. Direct-to-Consumer Sales: No middlemen — she builds trust with customers through transparency.

What’s Next for Kavya?

Kavya now dreams of setting up an organic learning centre and seed bank, especially for women-led farming initiatives. She’s also working with local government agencies to get more subsidies and training programs to rural youth.

She’s received multiple recognitions for her work, including being featured in state agriculture forums and women entrepreneur summits.

 A Message for the Youth

“Don’t wait for a crisis to choose a meaningful life. Whether you're a nurse, engineer, or artist — your skills can serve the Earth. You just need the courage to start.”

Kavya Dhobale’s journey is a testament to that courage. What started as a response to emotional exhaustion has blossomed into a thriving, healing, and hope-filled way of life.