Once Mocked for Choosing Farming, 24-Year-Old Prince Shukla Built a ₹10-Crore Agribusiness Transforming Farmers’ Lives—Here’s How
Once Mocked for Choosing Farming, 24-Year-Old Prince Shukla Built a ₹10-Crore Agribusiness Transforming Farmers’ Lives—Here’s How
Prince Shukla grew up in Purnia, a small town where farming is a way of life. From a young age, he watched farmers struggle to make ends meet while middlemen took most of their profits. He recalls, “That pain stayed with me. My dream was always to bring a new revolution in farming.” Those early lessons in hard work and resilience shaped him, and what he went on to do was remarkable, making headlines across the country.
Shukla, who once had what many would call a “safe” life. He reveals, “I was working in a good company and had the option to continue on a safe and stable path. But my inner heart never allowed me to promote or sell products that were not good for farmers’ crops and health. The company pressured me to do so, and I realised this was against my values.”
He chose conscience over comfort and quit his job, but it wasn’t easy. One day, a question changed everything: “Do I want to spend my whole life building someone else’s dream, or should I build my own and help others along the way?”
The answer was clear. “Purnia taught me simplicity, hard work, and resilience. Farmers here work tirelessly despite harsh conditions. Their patience, positivity even in crop failure, and never-give-up spirit inspired me deeply, and that’s how Agrate started” he says. These values became the heart of his future business.
Education & Building the Idea
Prince’s education laid the foundation for Agrate. “I completed my graduation in Agriculture (Hons.) from IKGPTU, where I actually started working on Agrate during my 2nd year of college itself,” he shares. Later, he pursued his M.Sc. in Agronomy from RMLU University. He also gained hands-on experience through training, internships with farmer-producer organizations, and agribusiness projects.
He says,“Education gave me technical confidence, but working on Agrate during my student life gave me the vision that I could use this knowledge to create a sustainable agribusiness model.”
Starting with Just One Lakh to earning over 10 crores
In 2021, Prince borrowed just ₹1 lakh from his father and relatives, a leap of faith that came with sleepless nights and countless doubts. He recalls, “Convincing his family was another battle. They feared the risks. But I strongly believed in my vision.”
He adds, “Another biggest challenge is lack of experience. When I started, I didn’t even know about company formation documents, compliances, or how to handle office expenses. Within a few months, my one lakh almost vanished.” That did not stop him, he cut every unnecessary expense, reinvested every rupee of profit, and worked with unshakable discipline.
Four years later, in 2025, the boy who once started with a borrowed ₹1 lakh has built Agrate into a company earning over ₹10 crores in revenue. “Looking back, my journey itself inspires me every day,” he says, a living proof that courage and perseverance can turn even the smallest start into something extraordinary.
“In the early days, people often underestimated me because I was young. They even mocked me for choosing farming as a career, stereotyping my choice as something with no future. They thought I couldn’t implement projects successfully. But I kept going with patience, and today, those same people call me and offer me work,” he proudly says.
Helping Farmers & The Business Model
At the core of Agrate is farmer empowerment. “We provide better inputs, expert guidance, and training programs so farmers can double their income by improving both yield and quality,” Prince explains. “Through Agrate, we eliminate middlemen by directly procuring from farmers, adding value through processing, packaging, and branding, and then connecting them to bigger markets. This ensures farmers get a fair price. Our philosophy is simple, ‘If farmers grow, we grow.’”
What Sets the Company Apart
“Most agri-businesses focus only on profits. Agrate India Private Limited is different. We focus on farmers first,” he says proudly. From seeds and training to processing, branding, and market linkages, Agrate offers everything under one roof. “We blend traditional wisdom with modern technology, ensuring transparency and fair trade. Our company is not just a business; it’s a movement for farmer empowerment with a clear local-to-global vision.”
Lessons & Mistakes
Prince admits he made mistakes early on. “I trusted people too easily and spent money without checking if expenses were justified. That’s why my initial capital disappeared quickly.” But he turned setbacks into learning. “Mistakes became my biggest teachers. They taught me caution, research, and patience. Today, I see those setbacks as stepping stones that shaped me into who I am.”
Advice for Young Entrepreneurs
His message to young dreamers is simple: “Don’t wait for the perfect time. Start small, start today. Be prepared to work harder than anyone else, and don’t be afraid of failures, they are part of the journey. Remember, ideas are easy, but execution is everything. If you have passion, honesty, and patience, you can build something extraordinary.”
Prince Shukla’s journey proves that with courage, values, and a vision to help others, even a small start can create a big change in the lives of many.
