28YO Left London for Avocado Farming in India, Now Makes ₹1Cr Annually

One day, Harshit Godha, who was pursuing BBA in London, noticed something intriguing while having an avocado. The packet read, "Sourced from Israel," which caught his attention. Curiosity piqued, he began contacting Israeli farmers and avocado experts to understand the uniqueness of these avocados and their farming techniques.

“I was curious because if London is sourcing avocados from Israel, then they must have some special quality,” said Harshit during an exclusive interview with Startup Pedia. 

Harshit, a 22-year-old from Bhopal, was also doing an internship while pursuing his BBA. He left his internship and went to Israel to learn everything he could about Israeli avocado farming. After a few days of learning, he returned to London, completed his education, and then came back to India with a revolutionary mindset: to grow Israeli avocados in India and sell them at affordable prices to mass consumers. 

In 2019, Harshit launched his agri-startup called Indo-Israel Avocado in Bhopal.

0-1 Journey of Indo-Israel Avocado:

Upon returning to India in 2019, Godha, armed with knowledge and fueled by passion, began his experiment. He invited his Israeli avocado consultants to India to assess if the land and climate conditions were suitable for growing avocados. 

“Although, my parents wanted me to stay a couple of years in London and gain some experience working there, but since I always wanted to do a business, moreover I had a solid and potential idea, I returned to India. My family fully supported my decision to pursue avocado farming,” Harshit told Startup Pedia.

The young Bhopal farmer Harshit transformed barren land into a 5-acre farmland, a polyhouse with a hydroponic system, and an avocado nursery, investing Rs. 50 lakh. However, bureaucratic hurdles and the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the import of Israeli avocado plants until 2021.

While explaining the reason during the conversation with Startup Pedia, Harshit said, “It took so long to get the import permit that the plants grew too large to be shipped. The shipping cost increased five to six times, making the project unviable. So, we postponed it.”

Despite the delay, the founder of Indo-Israel Avocado remained proactive. He documented his avocado farming learning journey on social media, generating interest from aspiring avocado farmers across India. His work was published on websites like Fresh Plaza, Israel Agri, and Fresh Fruit Portal. He started a blog, wrote an e-book titled ‘7 Things to Consider for Cultivating Avocados,’ and launched a YouTube channel to share specific and targeted knowledge.

“No one in the world provides such detailed information about avocados to the common man like I do. Researchers write papers, but they are mostly for academics. My goal is to reach the common farmer, which I do through YouTube,” said the founder of Bhopal based agri-startup. 

This approach not only fostered a like-minded community but also established clear evidence of his expertise. His content guides farmers through every stage, from making raised beds and installing irrigation systems to planting and fertilizing.

Harshit doesn’t just sell plants; he empowers farmers with the knowledge to succeed. He provides free consultancy services to those who purchase avocado plants, guiding them through every step of the process, from planting to harvest.

“People started contacting me wanting to pursue avocado farming. So, I decided to sell plants and provide consultancy services as well,” said the young avocado farmer from Bhopal.

1-10 Journey of Indo-Israel Avocado:

Since 2021, Harshit has imported 20,000 plants and started his own orchard on 5 acres of land near Bhopal Airport. Indo-Israel Avocado has sold plants to farmers in various states, including Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra. His own orchard, planted in 2023 with imported Israeli rootstocks, is now bearing fruit.

“I’m at the forefront of the industry in India. When I sell plants to farmers, they will see good fruiting in 2-2.5 years. I give a 100% buyback guarantee on the entire fruit production,” Harshit told Startup Pedia.

Indo-Israel Avocado’s core values revolve around sustainability, knowledge sharing, and empowering Indian farmers. They offer high-quality, disease-resistant Israeli avocado plants nurtured in a state-of-the-art hydroponic nursery setup by Harshit. 

With a revenue of Rs. 1 crore annually from plant sales and ambitious plans to expand his orchard to 100 acres, Harshit Godha is not just shaping the future of avocado farming in India; he is inspiring a generation of potential farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs.

Speciality of Israeli Avocados: 

To plant avocado trees, the best quality rootstocks and plants are required. Generally, 1 acre of land can accommodate 170 trees. These trees grow wide and large over time, so high-density planting is not feasible. In medium-density planting, dwarfing characteristics are preferred to achieve a compact tree with a high yield, allowing more plants per acre.

In Israel, over the last 60 years, they have developed rootstocks that can tolerate drought, resist soil-borne diseases, and produce exceptionally high yields. The fruit is harvested from the mother plant, the seed is extracted and given to nursery owners who then grow, graft, and sell the plants to farmers.

“If your rootstock is not correct, the yield of your plant will not be viable,” said Harshit during the conversation with Startup Pedia.

Why avocado is expensive in India: 

Harshit’s agri-startup is challenging the long-standing practice of consuming expensive avocados in India. In FY24, India imported avocados worth $13.5 million, including $10.6 million from Tanzania, around $1 million from Australia, and less than $1 million from New Zealand. This was an increase of around 99% from FY23’s $6.8 million, according to data from the Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO).

“Avocado fruit in India comes from other countries. If you order from Australia, Chile, Peru, or Mexico, the cost is high due to expensive shipping, water, electricity, and labor. Multiple middlemen in supermarkets further inflate the price,” explained the young revolutionary avocado farmer.

Harshit’s vision extends far beyond his own success. He envisions a future where India produces its own high-quality avocados, reducing reliance on expensive imports and creating a sustainable domestic supply chain.

The Plan Ahead:

Harshit, now 28, comes from a family of lawyers in Bhopal, always had a plan to start a business. The 5-acre orchard that is now bearing fruits has an approximate capacity of yielding Rs. 50 lakh annually. Moreover, he is setting up a 100-acre avocado orchard in Bhopal, which will generate Rs. 10 crore annually.

Henceforth, apart from avocado plants, Harshit will also be selling avocado fruits across India through retail and wholesale channels.  

“My plan is to add a 100-acre avocado orchard every year. This way, the revenue will compound annually. There is a long way to go,” said Harshit at the end of his interview with Startup Pedia.