From Village to Vancouver: The Journey of an Indian Farm Worker Abroad
In the quiet lanes of Punjab’s Moga district, life had always been simple for Harpreet Singh. Growing up in a family of small farmers, he spent his childhood helping his father sow wheat, tend to the cattle, and manage the modest farmland they owned. Like many young men in his village, he dreamed of a better life – one where his hard work would translate into savings, stability, and a future with dignity for his parents and younger siblings. However, the local fields could only offer so much. The rising costs of agriculture and limited income pushed him to think beyond borders.
In 2022, Harpreet came to know about a skilling and placement program that trained young men for agricultural jobs abroad. Initially sceptical, he wondered why a country like Canada, known for its advanced farms, would need workers like him. But as he attended counselling sessions, he understood that Canadian farms were facing a severe shortage of seasonal and skilled workers. They needed people who knew farming practically, were physically fit, and could adapt to working in new environments.
He enrolled in the program. The training was intense yet empowering. Beyond familiarising him with modern machinery and global farm safety standards, it prepared him for life abroad – basic spoken English for the workplace, understanding employment rights, learning about Canadian culture, weather conditions, and what to expect while living on a farm away from home.
After completing the program and his documentation, Harpreet boarded a flight for the first time in his life. As he landed in Vancouver, excitement mixed with anxiety. Everything felt new – the clean wide roads, polite strangers, and cold winds brushing against his face. But within days at his assigned farm in British Columbia, he felt a sense of belonging. The farm was vast, with apple orchards stretching as far as his eyes could see, and greenhouses cultivating crops through controlled environments. Unlike his village farm, here he operated machines that harvested, pruned, and packed produce efficiently. The Canadian supervisors appreciated his speed and sincerity, and his experience back home helped him adapt quickly.
What touched him most was the dignity given to workers. Protective equipment, clean dormitories, scheduled work hours, and prompt wages gave him a sense of respect. Weekends off were spent video calling his parents, shopping at local stores, and sometimes walking by the serene lakes nearby. Within six months, he saved enough to pay off family debts and began sending money home regularly. His sister’s college fees were paid without worry, and his father no longer stressed about fertiliser loans.
Beyond finances, Harpreet’s worldview changed. Working with migrants from the Philippines, Mexico, and Jamaica, he learnt about different cultures and cuisines. He realised that hard work had no borders, and dignity of labour was a universal value. After his first season ended, his employer offered him an extension based on his performance, with the possibility of a long-term contract in future. Today, he dreams of learning advanced farm management and one day returning to India to modernise his village farm with the techniques he observes here.
Harpreet’s story is just one among thousands of Indian youth transforming their lives through global agricultural jobs. While engineers and doctors often make headlines for working abroad, these silent heroes – farm workers, caregivers, hospitality staff – build bridges of hard work, resilience, and cultural connection between India and the world.
From a small Punjabi village to the vast orchards of Vancouver, Harpreet’s journey is a reminder that no dream is too big when it is backed by courage, skill, and the willingness to step out of comfort zones. It is stories like his that inspire others to believe that global opportunities are not reserved for a privileged few, but for anyone ready to work with dedication and dignity.
