Ratnagiri woman quits Mumbai manager's job, builds plant nursery business Vrikshavalli

Even with a good education, a job at a well-known company and a secure career, few people have the courage to choose the path they want if they feel unfulfilled. Madhuri Kalambate of Ratnagiri showed that courage. She left a corporate job in Mumbai and decided to start a business amid nature. Her venture, Vrikshavalli, is today seen as a blend of love for the environment and entrepreneurship. During a special podcast on the occasion of Shardiya Navratri, she described her journey from childhood to building her business.

Madhuri is originally from the Chiplun area of Ratnagiri district. Her childhood was spent near the Alore dam. She grew up amid the greenery, red soil, abundant water and farming surroundings of the Konkan. Her father worked in the irrigation department, and the rest of the family was also involved in farming. Living in a joint family of about 30 members, watching the farm work, the variety of crops and the care of trees and plants, she had long wanted to do something connected with nature.

After Class 12, Madhuri wanted to become a doctor, and her grandmother wished the same. But considering the family's financial situation and the cost of studying, she chose another path. Her mother wanted her to study engineering, while Madhuri herself wanted to work in a field connected with farming. She therefore chose agricultural engineering. A visit to the agricultural university in Dapoli introduced her to modern farm machinery and different courses. The course offered a chance to drive tractors, handle farm machines and learn farming technology, so she took admission. She said there were few girls in the course at that time.

During her studies she became familiar with many kinds of trees. Walking through the beautiful Dapoli campus, her curiosity grew about different plants, their fragrance and their qualities. The fragrance and beauty of the surangi tree impressed her in particular. According to Madhuri, the agriculture sector offers many opportunities beyond farming, including horticulture, afforestation, agricultural engineering and food processing.

The six years of study and work in Mumbai were not easy. The local train commute, finding her bearings in east and west, and the fast pace of the city were all new to her. Even so, she tried to learn from every experience. By visiting small and large production units in the packaging industry, she understood different processes and saw how plastic bottles, boxes and other packaging material are made. She began her job as a trainee and rose to the post of manager.

The Mumbai job had given her financial stability, but Madhuri kept missing her village and family. Having lived away from home for her studies since childhood, she now wanted to settle in the village. Her husband, Pratik, supported the decision. Her in-laws also helped, understanding her education loan and job situation. After marriage she continued working for about a year and a half, travelling to Ratnagiri at weekends. Finally, at the end of 2015, she left the Mumbai job and decided to return to Ratnagiri.

Even before returning, Madhuri had begun setting up plant stalls at local exhibitions. At the time, exhibitions had stalls for clothes, food and other goods, but a separate plant stall was rarely seen. Madhuri seized the opportunity. By talking to customers, she learned what kind of plants they liked, how much space they had at home and what difficulties they faced in looking after plants. This made her see the need to provide good-quality plants and the right advice in Ratnagiri city.

According to Madhuri, no business succeeds in a day. Winning customers' trust, understanding their needs and providing good products take constant effort. Instead of merely selling plants, she focused on giving the right information to keep them alive. Giving honest advice on how to plant, how much water to give and how to care for them became an important part of her work. It took considerable time to establish the business at first, and she then also had to face the difficulties of the Covid period. Her journey of building a business by putting her own choice ahead of a stable job is inspiring for women and new entrepreneurs.