Leaders

In a world racing forward, Smitha Kamath reminds us of the quiet power of slowing down and listening to the Earth. Sustainable farming expert Smitha’s journey from a corporate polymer engineer to the founder of PraanaPoorna Collective is not just a story of personal transformation; it’s a profound return to ancestral wisdom and a radical rethinking of modern consumption.

Tell us about the early years of your profession­al career.

Starting a career in manufacturing and moving into IT consulting shaped my mindset. Being a part of the business process re-engineering team, I was taught to question everything which shifted the way I approached solutions. I experienced the fragility of the corporate world and the sudden replacement of CEOs, made me reevaluate my relationship with work.

After being stranded in the UK during 9/11, I rethought my career and shifted to internal operations. I learned to work despite ambiguity and lead cross-functional teams. I think all those years, questioning the system, managing friction, and adapting to change, prepared me to eventually start my own initiative.

What inspired your foray into the field of sus­tainability and farming? Introduce us to PraanaPoorna Collective.

In 2011, I was exposed to concepts like natural farming, effective microorganisms, and decentralized sustainability during a visit to Auroville. I was inspired by a group of people conducting natural farming experiments, which changed my understanding of food and farming. I was made privy to the damage being caused on our immunity and gut thorough modern farming and chemical-heavy practices. I began to see the importance of microorganisms, not just in the soil and water, but in our bodies too.

That’s how our first three projects were born; the Bioenzyme project brings effective microorganisms back into our urban water systems and reduces chemical use in our homes. Sacred groves, inspired by traditional forest patches where medicinal RET species trees were protected contributes to groundwater recharge. Water footprint reduction explored water-efficient crops like millets and tree-based foods instead of water-intensive crops like paddy and wheat. We also planted trees that give free food and medicine, and focused on NTFPs (non-timber forest products) like soapnuts, shikakai, beeswax, and herbs that traditionally came from forests.

I later came across FRLHT (Foundation for Revitalization of Local Health Traditions), who work with native healers, documenting medicinal plants, their uses, and scientifically validating their properties, which showed me the depth of our traditional systems. I started experimenting with raw materials used in rituals, focusing on their high prana energy, and the importance of minimal processing and heat. My journey aims to restore energy-rich, earth-aligned living, starting from soil to bodies and homes.

What key roles do you shoulder at PraanPoorna Collective? What larger impact do you wish to create through your work?

Establishing the company, I handled all the R&D and production; however, now I focus on new product development, sales, and marketing. We are too small to have a sales force or afford traditional branding consultants, so I let the product packaging tell our story, repurposed bottles, recycled labels, cardboard instead of bubble wrap, paper tape, and even palm-leaf packaging from Tamil Nadu cooperatives.

We have consciously chosen slow, sustainable development goal-oriented growth over revenue-driven scaling. Rather than going for investors, we are bootstrapped. we source raw materials from our farm. If a crop runs out, the product goes out of stock.

Looking back which key milestones standout to you? What is your ‘success mantra’?

One of the biggest milestones was when the farm became self-sufficient. Another was when our lab tests showed our product performed 1,000 times better than isopropyl alcohol-based sanitizers; that was a huge moment.

Initially doubtful about the quality of our products, we invented every ingredient from scratch. Repeat customers became our biggest validation. We now personally collect citrus peels from juice centers, outsourcing to livelihood groups, and incorporating them into the products.

The key to success is clarity before seeking advice, as confusion can hinder progress. I always go back to our core goal, which is water and ecosystem restoration, and every decision is revisited to stay grounded.

How do you foresee the Indian farming land­scape evolving going forward?

Urban people who worked in corporate jobs and have seen the world are now returning to farming, which is a complete learning-on-the-job experience. We are gradually figuring the marketing aspect and working on fixing the soil, which is an important shift.

However, mainstream farmers in India are still stuck in outdated systems, with opportunities like medicinal and aromatic plants not being recognized. The current pricing system is broken, with market forces dictating everything. Farmers should be able to set their own prices, and access to a fair market is crucial.

A critical mass of conscious consumers must drive change. A shift from poverty alleviation to nutritional abundance should start at the Anganwadi level, focusing on locally grown food, millets, sourcing from Gram Panchayats, and making each village self-sufficient first.

Smitha Kamath, Founder, Praanapoorna Collective

Smitha Kamath Is The Visionary Founder Of Praanapoorna Collective, A Regenerative Social Enterprise Rooted In Ecological Harmony, Women's Empowerment, And Sustainable Living. A Polymer Engineer By Training And A Former Corporate Professional, Smitha Transitioned From Boardrooms To Bioenzymes Due To A Personal Crisis. She Is Not Only Creating Chemical-Free Alternatives But Nurturing A Future Where Health, Dignity, And Sustainability Are Interwoven, Starting From The Soil And Reaching Into Every Home.