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Punjab Inc: Meet the millet man who flits between Australia and Sangrur | Chandigarh News
The journey of Dilpreet Singh, the visionary behind “Healthy Soil, Food, and People” from a village in Sangrur district to the Australian Army and back to his roots in Punjab is a remarkable story. Dilpreet’s commitment to revolutionising conventional farming practices into sustainable agri-business has set a new paradigm in the cultivation of millets, offering solutions to global markets while aiming to combat Punjab’s water challenges.
Tell us about yourself
I am Dilpreet Singh, an Agripreneur and founder of Healthy Soil, Food, and People. I hail from village Rajpura in the district of Sangrur. Agriculture has always been my foremost passion, being the son of a farmer. I completed my education up to class 12 at a nearby government school. In 1995, I moved to Australia and served in the Australian Army for 4 years. Despite being away, I stayed connected with my roots, visiting my village annually. For the past 4 years, I’ve been overseeing millet production at the family farm in the village. Presently, I spend around 8 months in my village and the remaining months with my family in Sydney, Australia. However, our ultimate plan is to settle down in Punjab. My brand is called Healthy Soil, Food and People.
What made you start your company?
“Healthy soil, food, and people” – I believe these elements form an interconnected chain. To achieve healthy food and people, a process must prioritise these factors. Our conventional farming practices contradicted these beliefs, prompting me to transition from conventional farming to natural farming and venture into agri-business.
Your accomplishments till now
We’ve confronted and surmounted significant challenges in millet processing. Issues like low millet recovery during dehusking, shelf life concerns, and ensuring grain viability for human consumption were substantial hurdles.
Our ready-to-cook millets have effectively addressed these challenges.
Achieving a millet rice recovery of up to 65 percent during dehusking makes millets suitable for the global market. Certification from an International Seed Testing Authority accredited laboratory for nil germination demonstrates the quality and suitability of our millets for human consumption, crucial when exporting for human use.
Our optimised process involving soaking, steaming, sundrying, and shade-drying millets before dehusking neutralises natural toxins, enhances nutrient absorption, activates enzymes, and boosts vitamin accessibility. Additionally, soaking and steaming aid digestion, breaking down complex carbohydrates and underscoring the health benefits of our product.
Introducing pre-soaked millets and pre-soaked, steamed, and sundried millet flour (slow grinding) has revolutionised traditional millet consumption, offering convenience and accessibility to end users.
Challenges
Farming as a business faces ceaseless challenges due to its reliance on nature. Little R&D focus on millets within the wheat and rice growing clusters necessitates independent preparation and development. Local support for adjustments or prototype machines from agricultural companies is scarce.
Future plans
Our vision involves globalising the business, encouraging large-scale millet cultivation locally to meet global demand and counter Punjab’s depleting water issues.
Expectations from the government
We seek a level playing field and recognition for all. Currently, farmers transitioning from conventional farming receive no recognition or support, alienating them from the system.
Stress Busters
Belief in God and staying connected with my soil serve as my guiding compass. When feeling adrift, I visit Darbar Sahib.
Beyond entrepreneurship
Community empowerment is my focus, along with encouraging sustainable agricultural practices for the long-term well-being of both people and the environment.