INDIA - $5,500
Agricultural Income-generating Project
Project Director - Mrs. M. Alakumeenal

40 Dalit and tribal women from two villages in Theni District, Tamil Nadu, are participating in this one-year project. They will lease one half acre of land for five years and develop a tree nursery, cultivate jetropa [vegetable oil for bio-diesel, Ed] and make compost using coconut waste. A project implementation committee will consist of seven members. Trainings will be as follows; one day on nursery operation, two days on compost production from coconut waste, cultivation of jetropa. Each woman will receive a loan of $125, to be repaid within one year. 5,000 nursery saplings will be produced and 400 jetropa saplings will be planted.

GROSS INCOME PER YEAR: $1,595 ($500 from the nursery, $1,000 from jetropa, $95 from compost)

EXPENSES PER MONTH (YEAR): $40 ($480)

LOAN PAYMENT PER MONTH (YEAR): $11 ($132)

NET INCOME PER MONTH (YEAR): $80 ($960)

From R. Kannan’s site visit report, “YVK is small voluntary organisation with two trained staff. They have formed 50 self-help groups. The groups are enthusiastic about this project. Coconut waste is abundant in this area.”

Project Completed: December 31, 2008