Vikash Khichi
Protected Cultivation Entrepreneur
Village- Naya Bera District- Jodhpur, State- Rajasthan
INTRODUCTION :
Mr. Vikash Khichi (37 years), a young enterprising farmer from Naya Bera Village, Tiwari, Jodhpur, has emerged as a successful entrepreneur in protected cultivation. He is a law graduate (LLM). With a strong interest in modern agriculture and farm-based entrepreneurship, he enrolled in professional training to transform conventional farming into a high-income enterprise. His exposure to scientific horticulture and commercial farming models motivated him to adopt protected cultivation as a sustainable and profitable livelihood option.
TRAINING :
Mr. Khichi underwent a one-month Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) at the ICAR–Central Arid Zone Research Institute under the Agri Business Incubation Centre from 11 September to 10 October 2020. The training focused on the commercial model of protected cultivation of vegetables, covering scientific crop production, protected structure management, and entrepreneurial skills required for agri-enterprise development. He operates his enterprise under the name “Laxmi Agriculture Farm,” Village Tiwari, Jodhpur.
ACHIEVEMENTS :
Mr. Khichi established a 4,000 sqm polyhouse with 70% government subsidy and adopted scientific management for protected cultivation. His first cucumber crop (autumn–winter) yielded 50 tonnes, generating a gross return of ₹12.4 lakh with a net profit of ₹9 lakh, followed by a summer crop earning ₹4 lakh and a third crop yielding ₹6 lakh net profit. Encouraged by sustained success, he expanded his enterprise by adding another 2,000 sqm polyhouse. He now cultivates high-value crops such as cucumber, muskmelon, broccoli, and chillies under protected conditions, along with cauliflower, cabbage, onion, and traditional field crops in the open using resource-conservation practices including mulching and micro-irrigation.
IMPORTANCE FOR FARMERS :
Mr. Khichi’s farm has emerged as a model demonstration unit for farmers, rural youth, and extension personnel, clearly showcasing the economic viability of protected cultivation in arid regions. Through scientific management, crop diversification, and regular exposure visits, his enterprise continues to motivate others to adopt modern horticultural technologies for higher income and year-round employment.
RECOGNITION :
Mr. Khichi has gained national recognition for his innovation and scientific acumen by setting a record for growing the longest chilli (32 cm), earning a place in the India Book of Records in 2022. He has presented his success story on national platforms, including Agri-Startup India at New Delhi, and has featured on DD Kisan, DD Rajasthan, and Akashvani, Jodhpur. His achievements exemplify how skill-based training, perseverance, and scientific farming can lead to outstanding success in protected cultivation.
