In a world where small farmers struggle with low profits and lack of access to fair markets, Reema Sathe is changing the game. A chemical engineer turned social entrepreneur, Reema founded Happy Roots—a brand that bridges the gap between farmers, rural women, and urban consumers by offering healthy, preservative-free snacks made from local, farm-fresh ingredients.
With a mission to create financially independent farmer communities, Happy Roots ensures 100% higher profits for small farmers and employs rural women in food processing, giving them access to sustainable livelihoods.
The Journey: From Corporate Success to Social Impact
Reema Sathe’s story isn’t a conventional one. With a degree in chemical engineering and a postgraduate degree in business, she worked in leadership roles in the corporate world. But something was missing.
While working as the General Manager of Marketing at Krishi Star, a startup focused on linking small tomato farmers to better markets, she saw firsthand the hardships that farmers faced. They were producing high-quality crops, yet they remained stuck in poverty due to unfair pricing and middlemen.
Determined to make a bigger impact, Reema traveled across rural Maharashtra to meet farmers, understand their struggles, and identify opportunities. Her biggest realization? Farming alone wasn’t enough—small farmers needed access to food processing and value addition to earn fair wages.
That’s when she stumbled upon an article on The Better India about a WhatsApp group for farmers. She immediately connected with its founders and started collaborating with farmer groups. This experience fueled her idea for Happy Roots, which she officially launched in 2016.
Happy Roots: What Makes It Different?
Happy Roots isn’t just another food brand—it’s a social impact-driven enterprise that empowers small farmers, rural women, and local communities through a unique farm-to-table model.
Here’s How Happy Roots Works:
✅ Direct Farm Sourcing: Instead of relying on middlemen, Happy Roots sources raw materials directly from over 10,000 small and tribal farmers across Maharashtra.
✅ Empowering Rural Women: Local women’s groups are trained in food processing and employed to create handmade, preservative-free snacks.
✅ Reviving Indigenous Crops: The company promotes endangered Indian grains like battu (buckwheat) and kalbhat (black husk rice), ensuring biodiversity and sustainable farming.
✅ Creating Micro-Enterprises: By providing farmers and rural women with business skills, Happy Roots helps them become financially independent entrepreneurs.
Real Impact: How Happy Roots is Changing Lives
Before Happy Roots, farmers were making only 10-20% profit on their produce because of middlemen. Now, their profits have doubled to 100%, thanks to direct sourcing and food processing.
Key Achievements:
📌 10,000+ farmers across Maharashtra are now part of the Happy Roots network.
📌 Over 2,000 small farmers in Vidarbha have directly benefited from increased profits.
📌 100+ rural women are employed in food production, earning sustainable incomes.
📌 A Greenfield Project (Food Processing Unit) is underway to train and employ more rural women, in collaboration with farmer groups and NGOs.
Partnering for a Sustainable Future
Happy Roots works alongside non-profit organizations and farmer cooperatives, including:
🔹 Baliraja Producer Company (Vidarbha)
🔹 Lokpanchayat (Ahmednagar District)
🔹 Chetna Organics (Maharashtra)
🔹 Chaitanya Foundation (Pune)
By collaborating with these organizations, Happy Roots ensures better pricing for farmers, access to skill development for rural women, and a sustainable business model that benefits entire communities.
Happy Roots’ Products: Healthy, Ethical & Delicious!
Happy Roots offers a range of healthy, farm-fresh snacks, all made from locally grown, chemical-free ingredients and processed by trained rural women.
🌾 Whole Wheat Whey Crackers – Made with 100% whole wheat flour & natural whey extracted from cultured dairy.
🍪 Finger Millet & Oats Cookies – High in fiber and rich in nutrients, made using traditional grains.
🥛 Fresh Yogurt Dips – Made with curd sourced from small dairy farmers.
📍 Where to Buy Happy Roots Products?
📌 Pune: Available at French Window, Cafe One O Eight, and Yoga Room.
📌 Online: Available at The Gourmet Food Company & Faasos.
📌 WhatsApp Orders: +91 9623385701
📌 Visit: www.happyroots.in
A Call for Collaboration: Join the Movement
Happy Roots isn’t just about selling snacks—it’s about building a better future for farmers and rural women. They are always looking for new partners who share their vision.
✅ If you’re an NGO or farmer producer company, join hands to create sustainable farming models.
✅ If you run a women’s self-help group, collaborate to provide training & employment.
✅ If you’re a chef, restaurant owner, or retailer, connect with Happy Roots to source high-quality, local ingredients directly from farmers.
💌 Contact: connect@happyroots.in
Final Thoughts: A Story of Passion & Purpose
Reema Sathe’s Happy Roots is more than a food brand—it’s a movement. By merging business with social good, she has transformed the lives of thousands of farmers and rural women while promoting ethical, sustainable food production.
Her journey proves that one idea, fueled by passion and purpose, can create a ripple effect that changes thousands of lives.
💡 Support the revolution. Choose Happy Roots. Empower Farmers. Eat Sustainably. 🌱
