How a 24-Year-Old Kerala Engineer Turned Her Garden Hobby Into a Rs 1 Lakh/Month Business
How a 24-Year-Old Kerala Engineer Turned Her Garden Hobby Into a Rs 1 Lakh/Month Business
Parvathy Mohanan, 24, from Muhamma gram panchayat in Kerala’s Alappuzha district, has turned her love for portulaca plants into a profitable business. What began as a small hobby has now grown into a venture that fulfills 50-100 orders a day, generating an additional monthly income of around Rs 1 lakh.
Parvathy was pursuing her master’s in engineering in Thrissur when her college temporarily closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She returned to her hometown and attended classes online. Already having a small collection of portulaca plants at home, she bought 30 more varieties from a local seller.
Her business began quietly when she shared pictures of her plants on Facebook. The posts caught the attention of gardening groups on the platform. Encouraged by the response, Parvathy started selling plants from her garden while still in her first year of college.
Parvathy’s Instagram Post :
As her garden expanded, so did her skills and popularity. Coverage by bloggers and YouTube channels increased interest in her plants, bringing a steady flow of orders. Using the profits from sales, she gradually added more varieties to her collection. Today, Parvathy fulfills 50-100 orders daily and earns around Rs 1 lakh a month. She hopes to continue growing her venture while balancing her work and passion.
Parvathy’s success is part of a wider trend of women in Kerala turning their love for gardening into income opportunities. Pathumani, a woman from Kazhuki village, has created a flower garden near her house that has become a well-known spot in her village. Starting in 2019, she nurtured over 300 varieties of flowers and around 100 types of plants. Her garden attracts visitors and hosts community events, reflecting her dedication and care.
Her garden features over 300 varieties of flowers and about 100 different types of plants. Several rare species are part of the collection. It attracts visitors and admirers and serves as a vibrant community space for cultural and social events.
Parvathy encourages others to explore farming and gardening, showing how a simple hobby can become a sustainable business. She says, “Anyone in need of additional income can do this as a business also. The key is to grow low-maintenance but high demand plants like portulaca and find a trustworthy team to carry out the work in your absence.”
