Makhan Singh Padda is the owner of a strawberry farm in Evesham not far from Birminghami n the United Kingdom. His farm, called Vicarage Nurseries, produces more a than thousand tonnes of strawberries each year and supply to some of the major supermarkets in the area.
Makhan Singh is originally from Punjab, India and migrated to the UK in the 1960s. After settling in Birmingham, he tried his hand at various odd jobs like working in a factory or a grocery store until he learned about strawberries. From there, an idea of opening a strawberry farm originated.
He rang up a company that grew strawberry plants and "I said i want 80,000 strawberry plants," he says.
"And the man said 'what?!'"
Nonetheless, the next morning, 80,000 strawberry plants were delivered to Makhan Singh’s then small farm. As time passed, Makhan Singh added more land to his farm. But that wasn’t easy. Many white land owners would not sell land to him directly, so he had to use a middle man to seal the deals.
After 20 years, now the farm is 160 acres in size and provides work to thousands of people and turning over millions of pounds each year.
But even though he made it big running a successful farm, he is of the opinion that many other young Asians do not have farming on the top of their career list. He thinks jobs in computer industry of retail are more popular.
"Farming is not for one life. It’s not for me, maybe for my grandchildren or children."
So, why does he favour farming? Well he says that farming is not just for one life or one person. It’s a family affair and a business that will be passed on to the younger generations – to his children, his grandchildren etc. According to Makhan Singh, it’s a good investment.
“Our people, especially from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh they eagerly earn money from computers or shops or something else.
"But farming is not for one life. It’s not for me, maybe for my grandchildren or children."
The farm is now run by his son Bal, who, with a degree in Art and Design never thought he would end up running the family business. Farming was the last thing on his mind.
When he first came to work on the farm to help his father, he never thought he would last there. But, contrary to his prediction, he starting enjoying working at the farm.
Bal tells the BBC that it is thoroughly satisfying to see the lovely summers bring their produce to life from a little seed.
Bal also rubbishes claims that a job at the farm is for the unskilled mind. He says that picking a strawberry, making sure it is the right colour and size and making sure that it reaches its final place in perfect condition is not a job for the unskilled. He says that people who think that life on the farm is for the weaker mind need to give it a go themselves.
