INDIA ($4,625)
Nursery, Inter-crops, and Bio-products
Project Coordinator - C. Karuppaiah

Twenty women, five from each of four self-help groups in Pudukottai District, Tamil Nadu are participating in this three-year project.

This project begins with four new self-help groups receiving funding. This will be replicated in each of the next two years. For this project the women will be trained in inter-crops, vermi-compost and processing neem oil. Training will be for three days. The women will grow a variety of crops, raise seedling nursery plants, prepare compost and organic pest control matter, and process neem fruit. Each woman will be given a loan of $200. A steering committee, comprised of a woman from each self-help group will oversee training, marketing and evaluation. Anticipated economics are:

ACTIVITY	QUANTITY	ANNUAL INCOME
Inter-crops	$20 per month (grams, pulses, greens, groundnuts, cucumbers)	$240
Nursery	$40 for neem	$480
Bio-products	$5	$60
Total	$780 per year	$65 per month

From TWAD’s January 2010, 6-month report: July (2009) - 25 women were selected and an introductory training in organic agriculture was held; August - Three, one-day training programs were held; September - loans disbursed; October - One-day training in land preparation held, a one-day exposure visit, and rice was planted; November - Nursery plants distributed and planted; December - Federation meeting held and visit to the 25 women’s work planned.

Six-month report received February 2010

Project Completed: June 30, 2012