# Kerala Farmer's Organic Lemon Success

> Kerala farmer Rajan Mathew earned ₹13 lakh by switching from rubber to organic lemons.
- Title: Kerala Farmer's Organic Lemon Success · mint | Shortify
- Summary: Kerala farmer Rajan Mathew earned ₹13 lakh by switching from rubber to organic lemons. Rajan Mathew earned ₹13 lakh in peak-season earnings by growing…
- Keywords: rajans mathew, kerala, organic lemons, rubber farming, 0.8 acres, five tonnes, 260 per kg, 13 lakh, news, india, Farmer's, Organic
- Source: mint — https://livemint.com/news/trends/meet-kerala-farmer-who-traded-rubber-for-organic-lemons-the-payoff-13-lakh-in-peak-season-earnings-how-he-did-it-11792604851963.html
- Author: Anjali Thakur
- Published: 2026-10-21T18:08:15+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: rajans mathew, kerala, organic lemons, rubber farming, 0.8 acres, five tonnes, 260 per kg, 13 lakh, news, india
## Rajan Mathew's Farm Shift
Rajan Mathew returned to Kerala after nearly three decades in the Gulf to replace rubber with organic lemon farming.
## Peak Season Earnings
His 0.8-acre organic lemon orchard produces five tonnes annually at ₹260 per kg during peak demand.
## Why Switch?
Declining rubber returns and Kerala's reliance on Tamil Nadu lemons prompted Mathew to grow lemons locally during the pandemic.

> I wondered why we couldn't grow them here
## 100 Trees, Five Tonnes
100 lemon trees yield five tonnes annually through varieties like Ganapathi and Kaji Nimu lemons.
## Organic Farming Methods
Mathew uses organic inputs like Jeevamrut and fish amino acid for soil health and has organic certification.
## Direct Sales Model
Mathew sells lemons directly to customers and accepts bulk orders for weddings and events.
## Kerala's Crop Shift
Kerala farmers explore alternatives to rubber amid changing weather and supply-chain challenges.
## Key takeaway

Rajan Mathew earned ₹13 lakh in peak-season earnings by growing organic lemons on his 0.8-acre farm.