A farmer from Bengaluru has found a profitable alternative to conventional farming by growing small, round bottle gourds (also known as Lauki) for buyers in Qatar. Karigowda, who comes from a family of farmers, has built a specialised farming business by focusing on an overseas market rather than relying entirely on traditional crops. The farmer grows baby bottle gourds on his 3.5-acre plot and harvests them before they reach their usual size. This approach helps him meet the requirements of international buyers and earn around ₹50,000 in gross daily revenue during the harvesting season.
Why Karigowda picked small lauki
Karigowda lives in Kallurupalya in Bengaluru Urban district and belongs to a family with a long history of farming. His family traditionally cultivated crops such as maize, tomatoes and brinjals. However, securing profitable prices for these crops was a recurring challenge. Market fluctuations could affect the returns from an entire season, making it difficult to predict earnings.
Instead of continuing with the same approach, Karigowda began exploring crops that could attract buyers beyond the domestic market. His search led him to baby bottle gourds, a smaller variety that has demand in overseas markets. He chose this crop to tap into a more specialised market, where the size and quality of the produce matter as much as its availability.
How he supplies baby bottle gourds to Qatar
Karigowda cultivates the 'Swikar 045 F1' variety of bottle gourd on his 3.5-acre farm. Unlike conventional bottle gourds, which farmers generally allow to grow larger, his produce is harvested at an earlier stage. Each gourd weighs approximately 500 grams, matching the requirements of his target market.
The cultivation cycle begins with sowing in June and July. The first harvest becomes ready after around 70 days, with production starting in September. The main harvesting season runs from September to December. During this period, Karigowda works through brokers who connect his produce with buyers in Qatar.
The numbers behind his ₹50,000 daily revenue
Karigowda's farming model generates substantial gross revenue during the harvesting season. He reportedly harvests around one tonne of baby bottle gourds daily and sells the produce at approximately ₹50 per kg. At that rate, his daily gross revenue works out to around ₹50,000.
Over a 30-day period, the figure could reach ₹15 lakh if the same harvesting volume and selling price remain consistent. Across a 90-day harvesting period, the gross revenue could total approximately ₹45 lakh. These figures represent revenue before expenses, not profit.
AgenciesThe final earnings depend on the costs of seeds, fertilisers, labour, irrigation, packaging, transportation and other farming operations. Prices and yields can also vary, so the figures should be understood as reported estimates for the harvesting season rather than guaranteed returns.
Drip irrigation and mulching help manage costs
Karigowda uses farming techniques such as drip irrigation and mulching to support crop production. He also relies on modern agricultural equipment to manage cultivation more efficiently. Drip irrigation delivers water closer to plant roots, helping farmers manage water use. Mulching can help retain soil moisture and suppress weed growth.
Such methods can support more efficient farm operations, although actual savings depend on local conditions, installation costs and how the techniques are used. For a farmer supplying a specialised overseas market, maintaining consistent quality and meeting buyer requirements are also important parts of the business.
Why he continues growing other crops
Despite the returns from baby bottle gourds, Karigowda does not depend on this crop throughout the year. During the off-season, he grows tomatoes and brinjals and sells them in the Hosur market in Tamil Nadu. This gives him another source of income when the main bottle gourd harvesting season ends.
His experience offers a lesson for farmers looking to improve their earnings: identifying a reliable buyer and understanding the market's requirements can be as important as deciding what to grow. However, export-oriented farming also requires dependable supply chains, quality control and careful management of production costs.