Farmer Rajinder Kumar at work in his guar field. Guar is a desert crop that thrives in hot weather and needs little water.
Little bean in big demand —
Farmer Rajinder Kumar at work in his guar field. Guar is a desert crop that thrives in hot weather and needs little water.
Mallika Kapur/CNN
Guar seeds are collected from the guar bean (pictured) and crushed to form guar gum powder, a crucial ingredient in the fracking process that oil companies use to extract natural gas.
Little bean in big demand —
Guar seeds are collected from the guar bean (pictured) and crushed to form guar gum powder, a crucial ingredient in the fracking process that oil companies use to extract natural gas.
Mallika Kapur/CNN
Kumar bought a tractor with the money he earned by growing and selling his guar crop.
Little bean in big demand —
Kumar bought a tractor with the money he earned by growing and selling his guar crop.
Mallika Kapur/CNN
Kumar also started construction on a new house for his family. He bought bricks for it five years ago, but could not build it because he was heavily in debt. Thanks to guar farming, he has paid off his debt.
Little bean in big demand —
Kumar also started construction on a new house for his family. He bought bricks for it five years ago, but could not build it because he was heavily in debt. Thanks to guar farming, he has paid off his debt.
Mallika Kapur/CNN
Kumar's family has paid off almost $12,000 of debt with the money earned from guar farming. They have also bought an air cooler, two Samsung phones, and a satellite dish.
Little bean in big demand —
Kumar's family has paid off almost $12,000 of debt with the money earned from guar farming. They have also bought an air cooler, two Samsung phones, and a satellite dish.
Mallika Kapur/CNN
Farmers sell guar seeds in the open market. Prices have risen tenfold in the last year.
Little bean in big demand —
Farmers sell guar seeds in the open market. Prices have risen tenfold in the last year.
Mallika Kapur/CNN
Guar seeds are crushed in the factory to form guar gum powder.
Little bean in big demand —
Guar seeds are crushed in the factory to form guar gum powder.
Harmeet Singh/CNN
Bags of guar gum powder are ready to be exported to the U.S.
Little bean in big demand —
Bags of guar gum powder are ready to be exported to the U.S.
Harmeet Singh/CNN