Born into a family that has practised agriculture for generations, Yadwinder Singh of the popular Majha Haldi brand had initially envisioned a different career path for him. After completing his MSc in mathematics, he aspired to become a government schoolteacher and even secured a merit position in the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET).However, fate had other plans: The recruitment process became embroiled in a legal dispute that remains unresolved, prompting him to turn his attention back to farming.Yadwinder inherited a spirit of innovation from his father, Karamjit Singh, who was known for promptly adopting recommendations issued by Punjab Agricultural University.He often was one of the first farmers in the area to implement new farming practices.The family began cultivating turmeric in 2008 and quickly emerged as pioneers in the field. “We were the third farm in Punjab to adopt turmeric cultivation,” Yadwinder recalls. They had cultivated turmeric on 3 acre land in their native Chogawan Sadhpur village near here.Since then, he has transformed the venture into a successful agri-business. What started as Majha Haldi has now evolved into Majha Foods, a brand that produces and markets a range of products, including basmati rice, honey, jaggery, pulses, spices — and even turmeric pickle.“I realised that the biggest share of profits goes to those who process and market food products. We decided to handle everything ourselves, eliminating middlemen, and that significantly increased our earnings,” he noted.The decision to enter processing was driven by necessity. In 2011, turmeric cultivation expanded rapidly as more farmers took up the crop, leading to marketing challenges. To overcome the situation, Yadwinder began processing and selling turmeric under his own brand.Looking ahead, he plans to establish a larger turmeric processing unit.“We intend to procure turmeric from other farmers as well, and process it at a larger scale,” he said.The farm follows the principles of natural farming, and Yadwinder emphasises the importance of technology. Modern irrigation and conservation practices, such as rain guns and sprinklers, are extensively used on his farm to improve efficiency while conserving resources.Today, Yadwinder stands as an example of how innovation, value addition, and an entrepreneurial spirit can help farmers move beyond traditional cultivation and build successful agri-based enterprises. When asked if he regrets not having become a government schoolteacher, Yadwinder said, “Farming has not only given me money, but also respect and fame. I think youngsters should become entrepreneurs instead of running after jobs.”