With 20+ Organic Biofertilizer and Biocontrol agro-inputs, we team Tanay Agronics take pleasure in introducing ourselves as the first of its kind FCO (Fertilizer Control Order, 1985 – Govt. of India) registered Organic & Biofertilizers commercial production facility, with all basic and advanced equipment in Dhule and Nandurbar District of Maharashtra.
With perfect coordination of hurdles, fear, and confidence we are working 24 X 7 tirelessly to establish ourselves in this ever-evolving industry.
What is a start-up? It is nothing but to Initiate Standing-up on your own feet!!!!
Let me tell you my story of how it all started
I hail from a family where women neither did jobs nor entered any businesses. This scenario continues in my in-laws’ family too. However, the year following my post-graduation, I got married to Nikhil in 2005 & soon I joined as Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology at Shahada College.
After 3 years of a happily married life journey, I had another responsibility of motherhood. I took a break of 2 years in my career for my dear son Tanay; thereafter I decided to make a comeback. Seeking a good salary and permanent position in a lectureship, with the continuation of my job as a lecturer, I again started my educational journey through research. I completed my M.Phil. in 2010 and my Doctorate in 2019. The gap between a settled job and education was not fulfilled till the year 2017, so I had decided to switch from job to business.
This is where I changed my path towards something exciting which changed my way of thinking towards my career. I started taking entrepreneurship-based industrial training from various reputed institutions. The thought that financial independence is of utmost importance for everyone and even more in the case of women, stood strong in my head.
Till I was 37 my entire life revolved around my family and education only. But I tried to find an opportunity to escape from this orbit & create my own identity. Till 2020, I was in the midst of negativity as I had nothing to do & I constantly wanted to be known for my passion, my skills, most importantly for myself and not just as my husband’s wife or Mompreneur.
Everyone has a different timezone for everything; my timezone of life for doing nothing was very big. Every morning I used to wake up with hopes and sleep with dreams. Years passed but nothing changed. One day I finally decided to take a step, move forward for myself & change this timezone to a new beginning.
I was aware that my decisions would make me look selfish, but if I had stopped there, my dreams would not have got converted to reality. I was also aware that as a highly qualified person, it was my moral responsibility to generate finances for my family as well as to give better education and livelihood to my son. And like most of the others, my dive into business was induced by opportunity and the necessity of money.
Foundation of Tanay Agronics
Equipped with 16 years of Microbiological practices and 12 years of research experience I decided to establish my own venture of biological agro-inputs. And in November 2020 I & my husband founded “Tanay Agronics’ utilizing our savings and immense support from friends and family. We made a team of highly qualified professionals with the same energy and passion for work and together we decided to pursue ‘My Dream of Years’.
Initially, I was very nervous in the new workplace not just because it was new or thoughts like what the future will show me, but because of the high hanging expectations from my family & others. What I realized was there are & will always be some people who try to put us down and a few opposites who try to boost you towards success. My biggest support system is my family, and my core team who believed in me and my dream.
Let me highlight the dream behind my dream! I always wanted to be a successful lady entrepreneur and create a history in our community who worked for the first time for farmers at ground level. In the process of establishment, I faced many oppositions with negative comments like this is a hypothetical concept, don’t initiate this, etc. But only some whom I can count on my fingertips believed and stayed with me.
I never miss sharing the name of a very crucial person Dr. Ravindra Chaudhari, who is the backbone and strength of our organization. He never worked with us in a time-bound frame or with a tagged position as Marketing Head only. And the reason why Tanay Agronics made its footprints in a very short period of time in the market is his strategic leadership skills and clear understanding of the subject and market needs. It can be very hard to find your own voice when a woman in business is working in a rural area. The way people think, their expectations, and so many other things are still unmanageable for me. Every day is a new experience, and I am learning from it. This journey gave me a stage to stand in front of a group of farmers & work for them. Today I feel proud of the way I started my journey.
I would like to express a few words for GCCA:
GCCA is the platform, which has made a difference in the lives of many in our community! The same was my experience. As a young entrepreneur, I was striving hard to establish myself. In the same thrust of seeking cooperation, I reached Dr. Prashant Bhai, President and Founder Member of KDP. Surrounded by negativity since the start, his response was the most positive one. He then took me to the President of GCCA, Shri. R. Y. Patil Sir, an experienced and most successful businessman I ever met. He could judge my situation perfectly and shared with me the mantras of a successful business. He gave me every guideline as to how new entrepreneurs struggle. He taught me the importance of patience and hard work in business. To only preach is one thing, but they both stood by me and with committed support to my venture. Every telephonic talk with Sir made me confident and fearless. Shri. R. Y. Patil personally visited our unit that boosted our confidence even more.
I would especially thank both Shri. R.Y. Patil and Dr. Prashant Bhai for boosting my morale constantly. Never forgetting Shri Dr. Lateshbhai Chaudhari Sir for his guidance and support. This platform helped me reach society through several programs. Farmers’ meetings supported by the VSGGM team and Pravinbhai also helped. I would also like to acknowledge KDP and VSGGM for their support in introducing my products to the farming community in our area.
Take my mantra
If you think you deserve more, Be brave enough to demand more, and be disciplined enough to actually work for it!!!!
Dr. Manjula Patil