26-year-old Harshit Godha, inspired by the lack of quality avocados in Bhopal, is on a mission to revolutionize avocado farming in India by studying global farming practices.

While pursuing a Bachelor in Business Administration (BBA) from England Bath University, an important part of Harshit Godha day was eating avocado. As a fitness enthusiast, he made it a point to include the superfood in his diet on a frequent basis. “Whenever I would come back to India for summer vacations, I would notice that you dont get good quality avocados here, especially in Bhopal,” he says.

Back in the UK, Harshit Godha came across avocado packaging that indicated the fruit was sourced from Israel. “It struck me that if Israel can grow avocados in such a hot climate, we can do it in India too.” This realization led Harshit to decide, in 2017, during the final semester of his BBA, that he would pursue agriculture.

The result is a thriving 5-acre farm where Harshit Godha grows around 1,800 avocado plants, along with a nursery cultivating an additional 4,000 saplings. With these plants, he plans to create a full orchard and sell the fruits in three years. In the meantime, he adds, the saplings from his nursery will be exported across India by next year.

Learning from Israel Experts

When Harshit Godha ventured into agriculture, he was determined to master the art of avocado farming in Israel. He began by sending cold emails to the Israeli avocado industry, requesting the opportunity to visit and learn. His persistence paid off when Benny Weiss, a farmer from Kibbutz Maagan, welcomed him to his farm. Benny remains Harshit mentor to this day.

During one of his summer breaks, Harshit visited Israel for a month on a tourist visa. Although he could not work, he made the most of his mornings, spending time at the farm from 5 am to 10 am, taking meticulous notes on various aspects of avocado farming. He observed the varieties of avocados planted, the layout of the fields, and the crucial considerations for cultivating the fruit. He also learned how Israels methods differed from those used in South America, the fruits origin.

After 10 am, Benny Weiss would take Harshit to meet various avocado experts in Israel, including farmers, marketing professionals, and irrigation specialists. They discussed the state of avocado farming in Israel and the potential of the superfood in India.

Once Harshit returned to the UK to complete his degree, he continued to deepen his knowledge. Now back in India, he keeps learning by interviewing avocado experts from around the world, including from Mexico, Australia, and Colombia. “I have a YouTube channel and a video podcast where I share these interviews. I am documenting my entire journey,” he says.

Harshit Godha Overcomes Challenges to Begin Avocado Farming in Bhopal

Now back in India, armed with the knowledge he gained, five acres of family land in Bhopal, and full support from his family, Harshit was ready to begin his avocado farming journey. To prepare the land, he invited his mentor and a supplier to India. “They both examined various parts of my farm before settling on one plot,” he says.

They conducted a soil texture test, which confirmed that the land was suitable for growing avocados, though the soil needed to be raised. “You elevate the area where you plant the trees because its black cotton soil, which absorbs a lot of water. During the monsoon, raised soil ensures the plants will not become waterlogged,” Harshit explains. The raised areas allow water to flow sideways from the ridges, preventing water accumulation and ensuring better drainage.

After the soil test, Harshit faced the challenge of sourcing avocado plants from Israel, with plans to cultivate them locally. However, in 2019, he ran into roadblocks as the import process was complicated for first-timers, requiring various licenses and permits. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic further delayed his plans as both countries went into lockdown. After facing several setbacks, he finally received a shipment of 1,800 plants in July 2021.

These plants are all imported from Israel and are specific varieties developed there.

With guidance from his mentor, Harshit chose to grow five different avocado varieties across his five-acre farm. These include Hass, the most popular and in-demand variety, and Pinkerton, which thrives in higher temperatures than the Hass variety.

Through his experiments, Harshit aims to determine which avocado variety thrives best in India. “Since we do not have concrete data on what works in India, we can only look at what has been successful in other parts of the world,” he explains. “For example, South America, the largest producer of avocados, primarily grows Hass. Their ideal weather conditions mean they do not need to do much—just plant a tree, and it grows well.”

However, Harshit points out that Indias growing practices cannot be directly modeled after Western countries. “In those regions, farming is very machine-focused and equipment-heavy because labor is expensive and using machines is more cost-effective. In India, we need a different approach.” He suggests that India could adopt practices from countries like Kenya, Uganda, or Tanzania. “They have cheap labor, similar to India.” While Harshit draws on some Israeli practices, he mostly relies on Kenyas farming model for his avocado cultivation.

Harshit Godha Expands Avocado Farm with 4,000 New Plants and Innovative Care Techniques

Documenting his entire journey online has sparked numerous inquiries about avocado cultivation. On 19 June, Harshit imported another batch of 4,000 plants of the same five varieties, which he is now growing on his farm.

The plants require year-round irrigation, even during the monsoon season. “We need to use fertilizers consistently. You cant just fertilize them once every couple of months and forget about it,” he explains. “Fertilization has to be done with each irrigation cycle, whether its every alternate day or every month.” This approach ensures better growth and maximizes yield, he adds.

While the delivery of these saplings is scheduled for next year, Harshit says he has already sold out all orders. His buyers are spread across the country, including regions like Kodaikanal, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Nagaland, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and more.

Harshit explains that the plants must undergo a quarantine period of one year. “When you import plants, the government ensures that no diseases, pests, or fungi are brought in,” he says. “So, my nursery functions as a quarantine facility.” The facility is regularly inspected by the government to ensure no unwanted contaminants have entered the country.

“I need that one year anyway because the plants I import are quite young. They are not ready for transplanting onto the field yet,” he adds. After planting, it will take another three years before the plants bear fruit. Harshit has invested approximately Rs 50 lakh, funded by his family, to set up the entire operation.

Harshit Godha Pioneers Avocado Farming in India, Adapting to Diverse Climates

Locations like North East India and the coffee estates of South India are more suitable for growing Hass avocados, as temperatures in these regions do not exceed 35 degrees Celsius. On the other hand, green-skinned avocados, which can tolerate higher temperatures of up to 42 or 43 degrees, are well-suited for states like Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Gujarat, where the climate is hot but not excessively so.

“Sometimes it feels challenging because this is a new field—uncharted territory,” Harshit admits. “But I am still learning what will and will not work, especially since climatic conditions vary across the country.”

Above all, Harshit is excited about the work he is doing. “I asm developing a new niche in the agricultural industry in India,” he says.

Learn more about his work through his website.

Edited by Gayathri