Sunaina Sharma
Global Experience, Local Success
Village- Mogra Khurd, District- Jodhpur, State- Rajasthan
INTRODUCTION :
Mrs. Sunaina Sharma (46 years) is a highly motivated woman agripreneur who has ventured into two acres of protected cultivation at Mogra Khurd village (Jodhpur). She holds an MBA (Finance) and is an ICWA, with a strong background in family business management. She spent nearly two decades in Britain. After returning to India, she envisioned to establish her own enterprise in modern agriculture. Her visit to ICAR–Central Arid Zone Research Institute and exposure to polyhouse and nethouse cultivation structures, along with detailed interactions with scientists, helped her recognize the immense potential of protected cultivation as a profitable agribusiness. This exposure strongly motivated her to venture into protected cultivation.
TRAINING :
Following her visit to ICAR–CAZRI, Mrs. Sharma enrolled in the upcoming EDP. With technical guidance from CAZRI, she immediately planned and established a two-acre nethouse structure aimed at profitable off-season cucumber production. She invested ₹25 lakh in setting up the shade-net house. Subsequently, she received formal training through the Agri Business Incubation Centre, ICAR–CAZRI from 15–24 September 2025. The training significantly strengthened her technical understanding and enhanced her confidence in managing crops under protected conditions.
ACHIEVEMENTS :
Despite having no formal training at the initial stage and no prior agricultural background, Mrs. Sharma successfully managed cucumber cultivation during the challenging summer season with continuous technical support from CAZRI and guidance from experienced entrepreneurs associated with the institute. Although she faced challenges, particularly in managing untrained labours, she achieved a net return of ₹5.0 lakh from the first crop and ₹8.0 lakh from her 8,000 sqm protected structure. With the technical knowledge and entrepreneurial skills gained through training, she is now confident of further improving management practices and significantly enhancing profitability in the coming seasons.
IMPORTANCE FOR FARMERS :
This success story inspires many women that think agriculture is not a profession for well educated women. Mrs. Sharma has proven that modern, technology-driven agriculture can pave path for not only securing livelihood but also better business fortune for highly qualified and urban women looking for a respectable venture. The unit has benefitted several farmers and youths and motivating them to adopt scientific horticulture for higher income and year-round employment.
RECOGNITION :
Mrs. Sharma has earned a respectable position among agri-preneures. Moreover, she plans to further strengthen the enterprise through self-expansion in area and try different crops than everyone is doing. She is catalyzing farmers to create a group of progressive farmers who are ready to experiment and research.
