In rural Tamil Nadu, Flipkart seller Syed Fazil stands as a proud example of what sustainable entrepreneurship can achieve. Born in Pollachi, Syed decided to leave his job as a mechanical engineer in 2022 to build something deeply personal and impactful – Dagri Organics – a sustainable cleaning supplies business.
The idea of business struck him when he returned to his hometown and took up his family’s traditional way of life: farming. Syed noticed that sticks of coconut leaves were an agricultural “waste” that didn’t have much value. This inspired him to turn them into eco-friendly brooms.
For Syed, building a business is about more than just profit – it’s about impact. Read on to know his passionate story.
From Engineering to Sustainable Farming
“The core of my family has always been farming,” shares Syed. “My mother and grandfather have always worked the land, and while my family ran a small garments shop, they closed it down to pursue agriculture full time.”
Syed’s shift to farming came after a successful stint as a mechanical engineer. However, a strong desire to come back to his roots drove him back to Pollachi. “In 2022, I left my engineering job of six years, determined to create something that lasted – something sustainable, meaningful, and locally rooted,” says Syed. He began growing vegetables like tomatoes, brinjals, cucumbers, snake gourds, and developed the family coconut farm, gradually learning the rhythms of the soil.
“While working with others on the coconut farm, I saw a simple opportunity. The coconut leaf sticks, often discarded or sold at rock-bottom prices, could be transformed into a value-added sustainable product – coconut stick brooms. This is how Dagri Organics was born,” adds Syed.
Environmental-friendly Production and Eco-Friendly Innovation
The sticks, sourced from Syed’s family farm and those of others, are shaved, cleaned, and solidified with care, then transformed into long-handled brooms that make cleaning easy and ergonomic.
“Unlike traditional brooms, our brooms sport a modern design, appealing to homeowners with gardens or open spaces,” says Syed. “I want to give back to the community in positive ways and also contribute to the Make in India initiative from my village,” he adds.
Empowering Women and Rural Employment
Syed’s sustainable enterprise has also become a catalyst for change. “I have 20 employees right now, and they are all women from my village. This business is enabling them to build a dignified livelihood while being part of a bigger sustainability journey,” says Syed. He provides training, meaningful work, and sows seeds of pride in contributing to making and selling sustainable products.
“This opportunity has unlocked financial independence for the women who had few employment choices, prompting other women to step forward, too,” says Syed. With his business growing, Syed is confident that soon, he will be able to employ more women from the community.
Initially, his daily orders were 1-2 a day. “Now, I get around 25+ orders a day, surging to 40-50 during Flipkart’s Big Billion Days sale. For this year’s sale, I worked on forecasting demand, planning raw materials, and training my employees to label and stack products for faster delivery. I want to ensure customer satisfaction with each order,” says Syed.
Spreading A Message Across India
Since launching on Flipkart in December 2024, Syed’s Dagri Organics have travelled far. “People place orders from Tamil Nadu and all the way to Leh, Ladakh!” he says excitedly. His brand’s appeal rests on two pillars: eco-friendliness and durability. With each broom sweeping up a new home or garden, Syed’s story inspires people across India to embrace sustainability.
For Syed, however, this is just the beginning. “I want to scale up, expand production space, and even innovate new products – brushes, straws, and other household necessities made from natural fibers. I am focused on introducing more sustainable solutions to even more families in India,” remarks Syed.
