INDIA - $5,250
Cultivating Mushrooms and Vegetables
Project Director - Mrs. J.P. Kamalamanoiranjini

60 Yandi tribal women from six self-help groups in Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh, are participating in this one-year project. Members of the self-help groups have been provided training on saving, linkages with government and other financial institutions. 30 women will receive training in vegetable cultivation using vermi-compost. 30 will be trained in mushroom cultivation. Each group will receive a 2-day training. After training each group will elect three women to serve as an action committee to implement and oversee the project.

Several varieties of vegetables will be grown and will begin to yield after 45 days and continue yielding for 40-45 days. There will be a total of four plantings per year. Approximately $3,800 will be earned by the group. The action committee will disburse $110 to each woman every three months and will keep $380 for reinvestment and refunding. There will also be an inter-crop planted, which will yield an additional $50 per woman every three months. Average monthly income per woman will be $50-$55.

The 30 women growing mushrooms will use one acre for cultivation. In a two month period the acre will yield an income of $3,025 for the group. The action committee will give each woman $100 every two months.

All women will make loan payments of $5.50 per month, or about $65 per year.

From R. Kannan’s site visit report, “Peoples Action in Development has formed 79 women self- help groups. They have 6 trained staff. PAD has good experience in organizing women’s groups and income generation activities. The proposed income generation activities are feasible due to the climatic conditions and good marketing potential at Tirupati.”

Project Completed: December 31, 2008