Once on track for a career in civil services, Harshit Godha took an unconventional turn that is now redefining India’s agricultural landscape. After dropping his UPSC ambitions, Harshit went from the classrooms of London to the fields of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, where he has built the country’s first commercial avocado farm – an achievement that’s sparking interest among farmers and food entrepreneurs across India, featured The Better India.
The Unlikely Beginning
Harshit’s journey began with high academic hopes. He studied in London and later returned to India to prepare for the UPSC examinations. But the grind of civil services didn’t excite him. Instead, he felt a deeper pull toward the soil, towards something more rooted—literally. With no background in agriculture but a hunger to build something unique, Harshit began exploring niche crops that hadn’t yet caught on in India.
Avocados stood out.
Why Avocados?
Often referred to as a ‘superfood’, avocados are rich in healthy fats, fibre, and essential nutrients. But for most Indian consumers, they’ve remained a luxury – imported, overpriced, and often of average quality due to long transport times.
Harshit saw a huge gap. If he could crack the code of growing avocados locally, India could have access to fresh, affordable produce, and farmers could benefit from high returns in a rising market.
The Israeli Connection
To understand the technicalities of growing avocados – typically suited to Mediterranean and subtropical climates – Harshit turned to Israel. The country’s advancements in water-efficient agriculture, drip irrigation, and climate-adaptive techniques became his guiding light.
Armed with that knowledge, he returned to Bhopal and began preparing the land. The early days were filled with skepticism – from neighbours, local farmers, even family. “Avocados? In Madhya Pradesh?” many asked. But Harshit stayed the course.
Planting the Seeds of Change
He chose popular global avocado varieties like Hass and Fuerte, known for their creamy texture and commercial viability. It took years of experimentation, patience, and careful climate management, but eventually the trees began to bear fruit – both literally and figuratively.
Today, Harshit’s farm spans several acres and supplies fresh avocados to high-end stores, restaurants, and wellness brands in major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.
A Growing Impact
Beyond his own success, Harshit is empowering other farmers to follow suit. Through training workshops, YouTube videos, and hands-on mentorship, he’s helping cultivators in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra take their first steps into avocado farming.
His goal? Build a pan-India network of avocado growers, reduce India’s dependence on imports, and ensure year-round availability of high-quality produce.
The Road Ahead
Harshit is now working on expanding into value-added products like avocado oil and guacamole, and aims to set up cold storage chains and direct-to-consumer platforms. For him, avocado farming is not just a business – it’s a movement.
From UPSC to the UK, from skepticism to success, Harshit Godha’s story is a testament to the power of innovation, resilience, and thinking beyond the obvious.
Photo Source: The better India
