This Man Left Secure Job in Plastic Company to Become UP’s ‘Lemon Man’

Leaving a secure high-paying job, and having traveled across parts of the country, when Anand Mishra returned to his small hometown Raebareli to cultivate crops everyone thought he had gone mad. And when he started an experiment with lemon cultivation in the land of wheat and rice people were even more surprised.

In an exclusive interview with Startup Pedia, Mishra shared his journey from being a usual serviceman to becoming the ‘Lemon Man’ of Uttar Pradesh.

An altogether different work experience 

Coming from a farming background, Mishra had the land and some interest in cultivation. However, his experience with cultivation was the childhood memories of him going to the farmland with his father. His years of working experience were confined to the plastic industry. He had worked for eleven years in the Nilkamal group and toured across Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, UP & Bihar. 

Initially, he cultivated the two staple crops, wheat and paddy but soon realized why farmers were unhappy. One hectare of field yielded an annual profit of only ₹52,000. 

Becoming the ‘Lemon Man’

Meeting officials at the District Agriculture Office one fine morning suddenly brought him the idea of lemon cultivation. However, he was clueless at the start as no one could give him the information he needed as before him no one tried cultivating lemons.

He decided to take a big risk as no support or insurance was available for lemon cultivation. Gradually, in some years he started reaping the fruits of his labor. His lemon production flourished and money started pouring in. People in Raebareli as well as throughout Uttar Pradesh fondly started calling him the ‘Lemon Man.’ 

“Everyone started calling me the ‘Lemon Man’,” Mishra chuckled. “Even my relatives and acquaintances now call me that. The newspapers cover my story mentioning me as the ‘Lemon Man.’ Nowadays, it is used more than my original name.”

When life gives you lemons…

Mishra is a proud farmer. And an intelligent one too. Before starting lemon cultivation he had done his research. In his surroundings he found farmers were cultivating fruits, they were mostly mangoes and bananas. No one tried lemons on their fields.

“On my market survey, I found out lemons were coming into Uttar Pradesh from Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Chennai.” 

When Mishra started lemon cultivation, it took about a year to understand the nature of the plant and then it was time to reap benefits. Now, his lemon business has an annual turnover of fifteen lakhs with only five workers helping with the cultivation work.

Today, Lemon Man Anand Mishra is not just a farmer but a horticulture expert, trainer, and corporate consultant. He is often addressed by Ministers and Government officials. Recently, the Horticulture Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Dinesh Pratap Singh mentioned Mishra’s contribution to a remarkable program centered around agriculture.

How profitable is lemon farming?

When asked if this horticulture business is profitable, Lemon Man confidently replied it sure is.

“For lemon cultivation, a farmer can make 2 - 5 Lakhs from 1 acre of land from the 4th year while for traditional it would be only 30-35K annually.” 

Not everyone has family-owned land today. How, would someone from a non-farming background come to this sector if they want to?

Anand Mishra is confident that anyone can do lemon cultivation. “Rich or poor, most Indians have some land. Why not use it for horticulture? When you build your house, you allot spaces for the kitchen, for the mandir (worship area). Then why can’t you keep some space where you can cultivate lemons as it is a sturdy plant and can grow on almost all types of soil and weather conditions!”

A job cannot give you economic freedom like farming gives, remarks Mishra. The best part is, that you can allot a small area for horticulture even while doing a full-time job. It will generate extra income and who does not need some extra money?

The biggest challenge in lemon cultivation

On asking about the biggest challenge one faces while cultivating lemons, Mishra revealed it was the unavailability of insurance. “Horticulture has no insurance although we are taking huge risks,” Lemon Man laments.

 “Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana is for crops, not horticulture, please mention it on your platform so that our problem reaches the authorities.”

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Awards & recognitions

Mishra has been a recipient of several awards and accolades. From Chandrasekhar Azad Krishi Vidyalaya Kanpur, Bhim Rao Ambedkar Vuishavidyalaya, Lucknow, the Petroleum Minister, the Agriculture Minister, to the Uttar Pradesh state award, a galore of trophies sits in his home. 

“It feels nice when I receive an award,” admits Mishra. “But I am a simple person firmly rooted in my existence. I can ride a two-wheeler or a four-wheeler, take international flights, and then come to my field and walk and do the cultivation work. Nothing touches me.”

Farmers’ friend

Mishra is extremely happy and positive of the prospects of lemon cultivation. Now that many new farmers are trying their luck in this area of farming, Mishra is ready to help anyone and everyone. “If anyone wants to get training from me, I am here to help them,” he says in his energetic vibe.

His suggestion for new lemon farmers is:

“Divide the land for horticulture, say 1/3rd for horticulture…in that way when your traditional crop gets ruined because of natural calamity still you can earn from the horticultural land.”

The Central Government has announced a project to take 500 farmers abroad so that they can learn the most advanced technologies for enhancing their cultivation.

“I will take the offer, get internationally trained, return, and help farmers back home. Everyone can’t fly abroad, so, I will go and teach the others what I learn from there.”

Mishra revealed he would take this opportunity and get the proper international training. His helpful attitude is seeded inside him. 

Lemon Man’s goals ahead

Mishra’s son is working in Noida now. He hopes one day his son will realize that lemon cultivation earning generates more income than his job, and will join his father. 

About his future plans, Mishra shared his dream of wanting to travel to a Gulf country and see if successfully lemon can be cultivated there.

“They have sand all around and depend on other countries for citrus fruits. I have already talked with some executives from the Gulf. Soon, I will go there and I am sure, I will successfully cultivate lemons. My experiment has to be successful!” 

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Any advice for farmers, or, for the citizens of the country in general?

“For the farmers, I would say, if you have four bigha land, in one bigha please do horticulture. Lemon can be cultivated on any unused land. So, do it. When your staple crops get ruined by calamity, your lemon plants will bring you the money. What’s more. one lemon plant bears around 2000 fruits, so, do the math! It is an extremely profitable business.” He said smiling. 

For non-farmers working in private organizations, Lemon Man warned to generate surplus income beforehand.

“80-90% of people have some land, so, practice cultivation in that capacity. If you are planning retirement with no pension, do farming and make extra cash beforehand for a secure future.”