Author: Bihar Say | Amrita | From Engineer to Changemaker: How Prabhat Kumar Helped 25,000 Bihar Farmers Double Their Income “Never become a farmer.”This was the only advice
“Never become a farmer.”
This was the only advice Prabhat Kumar ever received from his father, a farmer from Gaya, Bihar.
Years later, that very advice inspired him to change the destiny of thousands of farmers. Today, through his initiative SumArth, Prabhat has transformed farming across 500 villages in six districts of Bihar, helping 25,000 farmers double their income by cultivating onions, mushrooms, corn, and strawberries.
Prabhat pursued engineering and co-founded a healthcare company, travelling to 25 countries in the process. Despite his achievements, people mocked his Bihari roots. Many expected him to leave Bihar, just like most professionals.
However, he made a different choice. In 2015, he returned to Gaya and launched SumArth, determined to rewrite Bihar’s farming story. By reconnecting with his roots, he aimed to help the local community achieve prosperity.
Farmers in Gaya often believed the kewal (black) soil could only support paddy and wheat. Moreover, they depended heavily on dealers for seeds and middlemen for sales, earning less than ₹10,000 per acre annually.
Recognizing this gap, Prabhat encouraged farmers to try horticulture crops. He even sent 10 farmers to Maharashtra to witness advanced farming techniques firsthand. There, they discovered a single farmer earning ₹15 lakh from one acre. That eye-opening experience sparked hope and ambition in them.
The first crop Prabhat introduced was onions. Farmers dedicated 10% of their land to this initiative. Meanwhile, he supported them in building low-cost ventilated storage facilities.
As a result, farmers invested ₹4 per kg and sold at ₹10 per kg, earning ₹1 lakh per acre. Storage facilities allowed them to sell when prices were high, demonstrating that farming could indeed be profitable.
After onions, mushroom cultivation was introduced to use storage units during winters. Unlike conventional crops, mushrooms required a one-time investment while yielding daily returns.
Consequently, by 2017, 200 farmers joined mushroom farming. Today, 2,000 farmers produce 600 kg of mushrooms daily, while 5,000 continue to benefit from onions. By diversifying crops, Prabhat created multiple income streams for farmers.
Encouraged by early successes, farmers explored seed corn, baby corn, and strawberries. In 2023, Prabhat established Gaya’s largest processing unit with a 10,000 kg per day capacity. This extended crop shelf life from 24 hours to 24 months, ensuring farmers could reach larger markets and earn better profits.
SumArth goes beyond crop cultivation. The initiative provides:
Fair-priced inputs for seeds and fertilisers
Training on seed treatment and modern crops
Awareness programs to prevent fungal attacks
Direct marketplaces that eliminate middlemen
As a result, farmers collectively generated ₹100 crore over the last decade. In 2024 alone, their income reached ₹23 crore, proving that a holistic approach could transform rural economies.
From 10 farmers in 2015 to 25,000 farmers today, Prabhat’s vision continues to create change. Looking forward, he plans to help farmers increase income fivefold through value-added products.
Meanwhile, SumArth keeps innovating and expanding, giving Bihar’s farmers tools, knowledge, and markets they never had before.
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