The journey of Organic Mandya began with a return. After years in the software industry in California, Madhu Chandan returned to Mandya and viewed his hometown with fresh eyes. In Bengaluru, he noticed many people from Mandya working in the city, far removed from their fields.
That everyday sight revealed a deeper concern. Farming was no longer a sustainable means of supporting families, and migration had become the primary means of escape for many. For him, it was a moment of reckoning. If agriculture lost its footing, villages would lose both dignity and hope. That was when he decided something had to change.
Experimenting At The Model Farm
The Organic Mandya story did not begin with classrooms and board meetings. It started quietly, on one acre of land. Madhu Chandan knew he could not ask farmers to adopt his suggestions until he had tested all the ideas himself. So, he rolled up his sleeves and began farming in the most traditional way, without chemicals or shortcuts.
That acre turned into a place of trial and error. He planted hundreds of varieties, more than 650 in total, just to see what the soil could hold. Some crops failed, some took too long, but vegetables with shorter harvest cycles showed the most promise monetarily. They showed that organic farming could also bring regular income and even surpass what other farmers earned growing just one crop.
Cows became the backbone of the farm. Their dung and urine were turned into fertilisers and pest repellents, simple inputs that revived soil that had grown tired under chemicals. Madhu also mixed crops, letting each one support the other, so the field stayed alive and balanced.
It was not about perfect yields. It was about proving that the old methods still worked. This little acre gave him the conviction to stand before farmers later and say: “I tried it first. You can trust this.”
Building Trust: Co-op & Farmer Movement
When Madhu saw his acre working, he knew the next step was for farmers. In 2014, he began talking to a few of them in small circles. He told them what he had tried, such as feeding the soil with mixtures like jeevamritha, using neem and buttermilk against pests, and planting crops in rotation.
The ideas were old, yet many had stopped using them. Years of dependence on fertilisers and sprays had pushed farmers into a corner, and trust was hard to earn. Some were convinced, and others weren’t. Still, every Monday, a few more turned up.
Those weekly meetings gradually evolved into something more substantial. The farmers agreed to come together as a cooperative. They registered it as the Mandya Organic Farmers Co-operative Society. The very first board meeting was not held in a large office, but at a tea stall in the village, with only a few friends gathered around the table. That small start laid the ground for what followed.
Launching the Brand
The farmer groups needed more than knowledge. They needed a way to sell what they were growing. That gap gave birth to Organic Mandya in 2015. It was created as the marketing arm of the movement, a bridge between the cooperative’s farmers and the urban families looking for clean food.
The first store opened on the busy Bengaluru–Mysuru highway. It was a modest space, but it stood out. Travellers could stop for vegetables, grains, jaggery, and even milk, all grown without chemicals. For farmers, it meant their harvest no longer disappeared into the hands of middlemen. For customers, it was a direct line back to the fields of Mandya.
The idea clicked. Within a few years, Organic Mandya grew into a chain of eight retail outlets. What began with one shop on the highway turned into a network that crossed ₹25 crore in turnover. The numbers reflected the shift. Farmers saw proof that organic produce could reach the market at fair prices. The shopfront had become as important as the field.
Popular Products
As Organic Mandya grew from a single outlet to a wider network, certain products began to stand out. Among them were two staples that soon became household names: the A2 desi cow ghee and cold-pressed coconut oil.
The Organic Mandya ghee carried a sense of heritage. Made from the milk of native breeds, it reminded families of the taste and aroma they associated with home kitchens. For many buyers, it was more than a cooking fat; it was a sign of purity and care.
The Organic Mandya coconut oil told a different story of sustainability. Extracted without heat or chemicals, the oil can be used for cooking, skin care, and even traditional remedies. Its popularity showed how a single product could connect health, culture, and everyday living.
But these weren’t the only stars. As the movement grew, so did the product line. Today, the Organic Mandya store showcases a remarkably diverse catalog with 300+ organic offerings.
Closing Reflections
In our fields, organic farming has found its way back, little by little. Families see better incomes, and the soil, which was once dull from years of chemicals, shows signs of life again. Women have stepped up, often leading the change in their villages. Farming feels different now. It is no longer only about survival. For many of us, it has become a source of pride, a way of living that connects us back to the land.
What began as small conversations soon took shape as a movement. Today, more than 12,000 farmers are part of it, spread across 300 clubs in 270 villages, with 4,500 women members giving it strength and balance. The first board meeting may have been at a tea stall, but the cooperative that grew from it gave us a shared voice and a future worth staying on the land for.
CTA: Join the Organic Mandya Movement Today! Discover fresh, chemical-free produce and support local farmers in your community. Visit our stores or order online to experience the taste of sustainability. Together, we can nurture a healthier future for our families and our planet!
FAQs
1. Who owns Organic Mandya?
Madhu Chandan is the founder and CEO of Organic Mandya. He has worked to revive traditional organic farming practices in Mandya, helping farmers transition from chemical inputs to natural methods that restore soil health and improve their incomes. His efforts earned national recognition, with the Government of India nominating him to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Coconut Development Board.
