A farmer from Maharashtra who once struggled to afford basic clothing has built a thriving poultry empire with an annual turnover in crores and is now set to share his journey at the University of Oxford.
Ravindra Manikrao Metkar, 57, hails from Mhasala Anjangaon Bari village in Amravati district and has been invited to speak at the Global Research Conference scheduled from May 1 to 5 in the UK. The event, themed “AI for Every Mind”, is being organised by the Global Economic Forum in collaboration with Oxford University.
In their invitation, organisers highlighted Metkar’s contributions as an agri-entrepreneur, stating that his experience and insights would add significant value to discussions at the conference.
Metkar’s journey began in 1984 when, as a junior college student, he started a small poultry venture on his house terrace with just Rs 3,000 given by his father, a Class IV forest department employee. With only 100 birds initially, his humble beginning laid the foundation for a remarkable rise.
After completing his master’s degree in commerce, his family sold inherited land in Chandurbazar to purchase one acre in Badnera, where he expanded his operations. Taking a Rs 5 lakh bank loan, he grew his poultry to 4,000 birds, and by 2006, the farm had scaled up to 20,000 birds across 10 acres.
That year, however, the outbreak of Avian influenza dealt a severe blow, halting his business.
Undeterred, Metkar restarted in 2008 with renewed determination and a Rs 25 lakh loan. From there, his enterprise steadily expanded, adding thousands of birds annually.
Today, his poultry farm houses around 1.8 lakh birds spread over 50 acres, generating an annual turnover of Rs 15 crore.
He has also diversified into cultivating fruits like banana, mango, orange, sweet lime, sapodilla, and coconut, along with wheat and corn, using natural and cost-effective farming methods.
Metkar now works alongside his family—his brothers and sons—in managing the business. While one son is pursuing an MBA after studying agriculture business management, the younger has completed a master’s degree in Computer Engineering abroad.
Having achieved financial stability, Metkar has shifted focus to mentoring fellow farmers and promoting allied agricultural activities. He has delivered lectures at institutions in India and overseas, including Singapore University, Indian Institute of Technology Bhilai, Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
Reflecting on his journey, Metkar recalled the hardships of his early life, when he wore stitched torn clothes and lacked even a bicycle to attend college. “I never imagined I would one day get the opportunity to visit Oxford University and share my success story,” he said.
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