Raheja Solar Food Processing Pvt. Ltd. – famous across India for using sunlight to process food while boosting village incomes – has named Mr. Ajit Kumar Singh as its new CEO. This move comes right when the company hits a turning point, having spent six steady years focused on real results; next up, it’s aiming to grow deeper into India alongside key spots overseas.
Founded by Mrs. Babita Raheja with her son, Varun Raheja, the business didn’t follow typical startup trends focused on quick growth or high valuations. Instead, it grew out of real-life struggles – especially those Indian farmers face, like losing crops after harvest or selling at low prices due to pressure. A simple talk at home eventually turned into a nationwide effort, now working across over 23 states. Bit by Bit, it’s moving deeper into different parts of farming and supply networks.
A Vision Shaped by Ground Reality:
When Varun Raheja started the group with Babita Raheja, their goal stood out – not simple to pull off: build something practical so farmers could save leftover crops while getting better prices. They held one firm idea – good tech shouldn’t rely on fancy gear or big money; instead, it should suit village life, cost little, and keep working without fail.
In times when rotten food seemed normal, the firm went a different way. Using sun-powered dryers, Raheja turned fresh harvests into longer-lasting products. This setup let small growers, community teams, farming collectives, or independent sellers take fragile produce and make it durable, more useful stuff. Instead of losing crops, people could now store them longer, sell them better.
This one step slowly grew into something wider – tying together clean power, food handling, and neighborhood businesses. Instead of just handing out gear, the group started doing more.
Workshops, hands-on advice, along with follow-up help took over, giving growers and tiny producers real access to the system while actually gaining from it.
Balancing Commercial Viability with Social Outcomes:
When activities grew, the focus stayed sharp – effectiveness before size. This idea guided each move forward. Instead of big centralized plants, Raheja Solar chose local setups that let farmers keep more benefits.
A key point in this journey came with Barefruit – the brand launched for shoppers, searching 100% natural fruit snacks dried using sunlight. Instead of just adding to the lineup, it showed that honest ingredients and eco-friendly methods can succeed widely while still protecting people and the planet.
This method brought in all sorts of partners – family farms, aid orgs, big consumer brands, or schools buying in bulk. Confidence grew slowly, which then led to real results you could track, not just talk about.
The Numbers That Tell a Story:
By 2025, the impact of Raheja Solar Food Processing was undeniable:
- 100,000+ farmers empowered across India
- 10,000+ solar dryers deployed nationwide
- 12,000+ MT of food saved from going to waste
- 26,850+ MT carbon footprint reduced
- 50% increase in farmer productivity
- 250+ brands partnered, including leading FMCG companies
- 1,000+ micro-entrepreneurs supported through decentralized processing models
- Operations across 23+ Indian states
When talking about the pick, Mrs. Babita Raheja – Founder and Director – said:
“What began as a small, family-led idea has grown far beyond our original expectations. As the organisation evolves, bringing in leadership that can establish robust structures and steer the next stage of progress – without losing sight of our purpose – has become essential.”
Mr. Varun Raheja, who started the company and helps run it, said:
“For 6 years, our focus was to demonstrate that sustainability and impact can succeed in real-world conditions. With a strong base now in place, this transition allows us to think bigger and longer term, while staying true to why we started.”
Leadership Aligned with the Future:
Mr. Ajit Kumar Singh – shared his thoughts
“Raheja Solar Food Processing operates at a rare intersection of sustainability, farmer empowerment, and scalable enterprise. The groundwork already laid is substantial, and I look forward to working closely with the founders and team to build an organisation that is resilient and prepared for the future.”
He’s leading the team to grow solar-powered food handling across more areas, while also building stronger links through the supply chain – alongside testing fresh ideas at home and abroad. With markets getting bigger, they’re still focused on boosting local setups that put farmers first.
The Road Ahead:
Thanks to strong basics, clear results, plus trust building up among supporters, Raheja Solar Food Processing along with Barefruit can now push ahead – faster, smarter. Shifting the lead role shows something bigger: when mission-driven groups want to last, stepping up their management just makes sense.
This moment isn’t just about new leadership. It shows direction – focus on shaping a business that keeps delivering for growers, buyers, and nature, yet grows carefully through thoughtful steps.
About Raheja Solar Food Processing Pvt. Ltd.
Flying out of Indore, Madhya Pradesh, Raheja Solar Food Processing runs on sun-powered tech to save crops from waste after harvest. Instead of tossing extras, they team up with local growers, small collectives, farming co-ops, and backyard business owners nationwide – turning overflow into dried goods that last longer and sell better.
About Barefruit:
Barefruit comes from Raheja Solar Food Processing – it gives you real fruit snacks dried by sunlight, no fake stuff added. Running on green power, picking fair-trade ingredients, showing how things are made – this is how they help people eat better without hassle. Their goal? Bring honest food to regular people, using methods that don’t harm the planet.
