---
title: "From Bengaluru flat to a 10-acre farm: Chethan Shetty's mushroom start"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/flat-to-10-acre-farm-chethan-shetty-aort7
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
section: Society
published: 2026-08-25T05:00:41.564Z
modified: 2026-08-25T06:30:08.103Z
language: en-IN
---

# From Bengaluru flat to a 10-acre farm: Chethan Shetty's mushroom start

Chethan Shetty swapped city life for farming, starting with mushrooms in a Bengaluru flat, then expanding to a 10-acre ancestral farm. His venture now includes diverse crops and a significant rambutan income, with 2022 earnings cited as Rs 15 lakh.

## Key takeaways

- Chethan Shetty left a city job in 2017 to return to his ancestral farm near Bellare and began farming seriously.
- Initial tests included growing mushrooms in a Bengaluru flat and cultivating turmeric after returning to the land.
- The 10-acre farm hosts a mix of fruit trees and intercrops, with rambutan becoming a major income source.
- By 2022, the family reported earnings of Rs 15 lakh from selling about 5,200 kg of produce across India.

## What Happened

Chethan Shetty left a corporate career in Bengaluru in 2017 to return to his ancestral farm near Bellare, in the vicinity of Mangaluru. He had previously tested farming by growing mushrooms in a rented Bengaluru apartment, using a small gas stove to prepare hay for cultivation. After trying turmeric on the same ancestral land and achieving a harvest of around 3,000 kg, he decided to pursue farming seriously. He prepared a 10-acre plot, dug a borewell, and planted 550 rambutan trees, 50 mangosteen trees, and 100 tender coconut plants, along with vegetables. When the fruit trees were still maturing, he grew bananas and areca nuts as intercrops to meet expenses. Rambutan soon became a major source of income, helping fund further development of the farm and enabling the construction of a house in the village. The family farm, named Manjanna Shetty Family Farms, now counts over 2,500 areca nut trees, 800 pepper vines, 50 nutmeg trees, 300 coconut trees, 650 rambutan trees, more than 100 mangosteen trees, and 50 avocado plants. In 2022, the family earned Rs 15 lakh by selling about 5,200 kg of produce to traders and retailers across India, according to the source information published in March 2023.

## Why It Matters

The story illustrates a transition from urban to rural farming, showing how initial experiments in a city apartment can lead to a diversified 10-acre agri-enterprise. Rambutan emerged as a key income driver, supporting the farm’s expansion and a new home in the village. The example underscores how value diversification (intercrops like bananas and areca nuts) can sustain farm livelihoods during the early years of tree crops’ maturation.

## Background

The subject, Chethan Shetty, left eight years in a corporate role before returning to his ancestral farm near Bellare. His initial foray into farming started with mushrooms grown inside a rented Bengaluru flat, followed by turmeric cultivation on the ancestral land, which yielded a substantial harvest that boosted his confidence to reboot the farm enterprise. The farm’s development included planting fruit trees and other crops to create a multi-crop system for income stability as permanent crops matured.

## Key Facts

- 2017: Chethan Shetty leaves a corporate career in Bengaluru to return to his ancestral farm near Bellare.
- Initial experiment: mushrooms cultivated in a Bengaluru flat using a gas stove to prepare hay.
- Turmeric harvest on ancestral land: about 3,000 kg.
- Farm size and planting: 10 acres with 550 rambutan, 50 mangosteen, 100 tender coconut plants, plus vegetables.
- Intercrops used: bananas and areca nuts.
- Current farm composition: 2,500 areca nut trees, 800 pepper vines, 50 nutmeg trees, 300 coconut trees, 650 rambutan trees, 100+ mangosteen trees, 50 avocado plants.
- Income milestone: in 2022, earnings reported as Rs 15 lakh from selling around 5,200 kg of produce to traders and retailers across India (as of a March 2023 report).
- Family farm name: Manjanna Shetty Family Farms.
- Family sentiment: the father initially hesitated about the switch but later expressed happiness with his son's farming work.

## What Happens Next

The article does not specify future plans beyond the established farm operations and continued diversification of crops. The reported path suggests ongoing cultivation of fruit trees and intercrops to sustain income as trees mature, with a focus on expanding market access for produce.

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Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/flat-to-10-acre-farm-chethan-shetty-aort7
Reported from: Multiple Sources