Project Description: GRAMA VALARNARAI TRUST
INDIA - $5,000
Biodiversity and Income Generation for Farmer Community Women
Project Coordinator: Mr. N. Subramanian
Twenty women in each of three villages will receive loans of $70 to purchase one country calf, 20 chickens and seeds, compost and tree saplings. Loans will be repaid at $6 per month with no interest. The women will receive two days of training in bio-diversity and income generating activities. In a year, the women expect to see a gross income of $285 ($120 from the sale of a cow, $115 from the sale of eggs and hens, $50 from the sale of trees). The loan payment will be $70, leaving a net income of $215 per woman.
From Dr. R. Kannan’s site visit report, “GVT has their office in one of the target villages. The managing trustee and staff belong to the same community. The GVT team is well organized and trained. They have good understanding about the target area, agro-climatic conditions, livestock maintenance, and the conditions of the poor rural people. The proposed project is in tune with the environmental, socio-economic conditions. GVT’s past [RSWR-supported] project is successfully completed. All the farmers are continuing the new pattern of agriculture and sharing the traditional seeds.”
Project completed: June 30, 2008