Coorg/New Delhi, Oct. 26 -- Gursimran Singh is done with lemons and guavas. A small farmer from Malerkotla in Punjab, Singh flew down to Bengaluru earlier this October, and then hired a car to a remote research station in Chettalli, Coorg.

The purpose of this long journey? Buy avocado saplings.

Back in 2018, Singh had planted a few avocado plants alongside longan and pecan nut trees-all exotic things. The avocado trees are now bearing fruit and selling at a premium. Visitors to his farm pay as much as Rs.150 apiece.

So, Singh is now planning to uproot the lemons and guavas, planted in three acres at his farm, and replace them with avocados.

It was an expensive affair. Singh spent nearly Rs.7 lakh on 800 saplings and in transporting th...