INDIA - $4,925
Calf-rearing, Herbal Cultivation, and Jute Products
Project Director - Mrs. K. Hema Latha

70 women, 30 tribal women and 40 adolescent girls from two self-help groups in Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh, are participating in this one-year project. The women will rear calves and cultivate herbs. The girls will produce jute-based products. The women and girls will each elect four among themselves to form a steering committee to coordinate the project.

The women will receive skill training from a veterinarian and a Sidha [traditional medicine] practitioner. From the veterinarian they will learn fodder production, animal husbandry, and utilization of manure for vermi-compost. The Sidha practitioner will teach them about varieties of herbs, curing, processing and utilization. They will rear the calves individually and cultivate the herbs as a group. They can expect to earn $20 per month from compost sales and $75 per month from the sale of herbs. Totally monthly income per woman will be $95.

The girls will receive a one-month training in the making of jute products (hand bags, gunny bags, fancy items). 20 sewing machines will be purchased. Half of the girls will sew and the other half will cut materials and package finished products. The entire group can produce 600 bags per day selling at $.50 per bag. In 26 days (one working month) they can earn $7,900. The steering committee will disburse $100 to each girl, keeping $3,850 for reinvestment, refunding and savings. Each group will repay a total of $1,555, $7.50 per person per month.

Project Completed: December 31, 2008