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Not many people leave behind a stable IT career to chase an uncertain dream, but that’s exactly what Pune-based engineer Shailesh Modak chose to do. After spending 13 years in the software industry with companies like ECS and Barclays — and travelling across countries such as Cambodia, Malaysia, and Uganda — he realised that a high-paying job alone didn’t bring him true fulfilment. He wanted something more meaningful, something rooted in purpose.
A Chance Radio Show That Changed His Life
One evening, while driving home, Shailesh happened to tune into a radio show discussing honeybees and their importance in agriculture. Something about that conversation sparked a deep curiosity. Instead of letting the thought fade, he took the leap and enrolled in a beekeeping course at CBRTI, Pune.
This small decision opened the door to his first entrepreneurial venture — Pollination Services, where he rented beehive boxes to farmers. The idea worked and even created steady income. But soon, he faced transportation challenges that made the model unsustainable. Instead of giving up, Shailesh looked at it as a turning point.
A Newfound Fascination With Farming
As he interacted more with farmers, he became increasingly drawn to agriculture — its challenges, opportunities, and the science behind it. In 2018, he discovered the world of hydroponics and aeroponics. Intrigued, he began experimenting with growing crops inside shipping containers, using controlled-environment techniques.
That’s when a bold idea struck him:
Could saffron — one of India’s most delicate crops — be grown without soil in a controlled indoor setup?
The Birth of 365D Farms
In 2019, this curiosity transformed into reality when Shailesh launched 365D Farms, a fully controlled, hi-tech, indoor farm built inside an 8×40 ft shipping container in Pune. Half of the container was dedicated to vertical saffron farming and the other half to growing leafy greens and medicinal mushrooms.
With the help of chillers, grow lights, humidifiers, IoT systems, and high-quality corms sourced from Pampore, Shailesh successfully grew Kashmiri saffron indoors, achieving an impressive output of around 1 kilogram per year. It marked one of the rare successful attempts at large-scale indoor saffron cultivation in India.
Growing Fresh Food 365 Days a Year
Over time, the farm expanded its capabilities. Today, 365D Farms cultivates premium saffron, medicinal mushrooms like cordyceps, and fresh pesticide-free vegetables. Their system uses dramatically less water, eliminates soil-borne diseases, and delivers clean, residue-free crops throughout the year.
Beyond production, the farm has become a learning hub, training more than 1,000 farmers and students in hydroponics, soilless farming, and controlled-environment agriculture.
The People Behind the Vision
Shailesh is joined by his childhood friend and co-founder, Dr. Rahul Dhake, a medical doctor with a passion for farming. His scientific approach and deep curiosity have helped shape many of the research-driven innovations at 365D Farms.
Both founders attribute much of their success to the guidance of their mentor, Late Dr. Vikas Khaire, an agricultural pioneer with more than 37 years of experience. His teachings on plant science, farming systems, and sustainable innovation continue to influence their decisions and direction.
A Mission That Goes Beyond Farming
Today, 365D Farms stands for more than just high-tech agriculture. Shailesh and his team envision a future where indoor farming is accessible to everyone — from traditional farmers to urban households. Their current research aims at enabling saffron cultivation multiple times a year through advanced controlled-environment techniques, potentially revolutionizing how premium crops are grown in India.
What Drives Him?
When asked what keeps him going, Shailesh answers with clarity and humility. For him, it’s about creating meaningful impact, empowering farmers, and proving that innovation in agriculture can change lives. His journey from IT engineer to pioneering indoor farmer is a reminder that passion, when followed fearlessly, can redefine one’s destiny.
