Imagine a farmer in India earning more than a techie capable of working at Infosys! Not likely right? Well, the same is apparently not the case in Japan. Venkatasamy Vignesh, a techie from Tamil Nadu quit his stable job at Infosys and took up brinjal farming in Japan.
Two years after quitting his stable income job at Infosys, the 27-year-old, who hails from Kovilpatti in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi district, now earns double the salary while working at a brinjal farm in Japan, according to a MoneyControl report.
"I have always been interested in agriculture. And it was during the lockdown that I got a chance to reconnect with my passion. I began to tend to my family's farms and soon realised that it was indeed my calling," Vignesh told MoneyControl.
As per reports, Vignesh's family was not in favour of him earning a living out of agriculture, as they believe that there is no money to be made in that sector. "They wanted me to have a stable income," he said, adding that he found hope when he came to know of an opportunity in Japan.
A friend of Vignesh told him about an institute that trains people in Japanese language and culture before helping them find jobs in the country. Vignesh got himself enrolled, and six months later, he flew to Japan to begin his stint as an agricultural worker at a brinjal farm.
The institute that gave Vignesh this chance is Chennai-based Nihon Edutech, which works in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). It trains skilled workers in Japanese language, culture, etiquette, and technical training to place them in Japan. Japan's demand for farmers comes from the country's ageing population and its younger generation's disinterest in agriculture.
Vignesh, who used to earn close to Rs 40,000 a month at Infosys, now earns around Rs 80,000 after deducting taxes. He lives in the company's quarters for free but has to take care of his food requirements
At his job in Japan, Vignesh takes care of the crops and once they are ready, he helps in harvesting, cleaning, and processing it. After his stint abroad, Vignesh intends to use his learnings to introduce innovative farming techniques in India.
Although Vignesh's family was initially against the idea of him working as a farmer, they are okay now knowing that he is making more money than in his last job at Infosys. "They are also a little proud that I intend to return and share my experiences with them," Vignesh said.