Unnao: In the fertile heartland of Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, where the Ganga nourishes acres of farmland, a quiet revolution is underway. Leading it is Aman Kumar, a social entrepreneur from Karowan village, whose venture Nutty Village is transforming peanuts into a symbol of empowerment.
From Small-Town Dreamer to Changemaker
Aman grew up witnessing local farmers struggle under the weight of low prices and middlemen exploitation. After earning a computer applications degree in 2016 and freelancing as a web designer, he realized his true calling lay back home, in the fields of Unnao.
In 2020, he enrolled in the Social Entrepreneurship program at Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai. There, during a project with future co-founder Sushant Barma, Aman discovered a powerful insight: Unnao’s peanut farmers needed more than just market access—they needed value addition.
Building Nutty Village
In 2022, Aman and Sushant co-founded Nutty Village, a startup focused on producing organic, preservative-free peanut butter by sourcing directly from small farmers in Unnao. Sushant left a lucrative job to join the mission, and together they worked with 50 farmers in the Sarosi block, cutting out middlemen and ensuring fair prices.
Aman’s earlier startup, Fresh-ily, had shown him the power of connecting producers directly with consumers. With Nutty Village, he scaled this vision into a sustainable, community-driven business.
Empowering Women, Reviving Soil
Beyond farmers, Nutty Village has become a lifeline for women in local self-help groups (SHGs). They are involved in the processing and packaging of peanut products, gaining both income and confidence.
Chandkali, 60, a SHG worker, reflects, “Earlier, I worked only at home. Now I earn ₹320 a day. It feels like we’re a team.”
The startup also promotes sustainable farming through a blended finance model. Farmers receive seeds, organic fertilizers, and training in rotating peanuts with millets—restoring soil health and reducing water use.
From Struggles to Scaling Up
Starting with little capital, Aman took a ₹5 lakh government loan and a ₹1.5 lakh investment from his TISS professor Anuj Sharma. Winner and Got a grant from UNDP Youth CoLab. The early days were tough—logistical hurdles, market skepticism, and low brand visibility.
But persistence paid off. From selling 1,000 units in eight months, they reached 10,000 in the next. Today, Nutty Village serves over 50,000 families and has built a loyal customer base across urban India.
A Global Tribute
In 2024, Nutty Village honored former U.S. President Jimmy Carter—himself a peanut farmer and rural advocate—by launching two new flavors: coffee and barbecue. “Our startup is built around peanuts and rural development. This tribute felt fitting,” said Aman.
Aman’s journey from Karowan to representing Startup India at Slush in Finland is a remarkable story of purpose-driven entrepreneurship. But for him, the mission is far from over. He wants to expand the model across India, creating sustainable rural ecosystems where farmers, women, and the environment all thrive.
His message to aspiring entrepreneurs: “Use local resources to create social impact. Help others grow with you.”
Aman Kumar’s Nutty Village isn’t just a business—it’s a movement. And it all started with one nutty idea that worked.
