FOCUS: WOMEN AND LIVELIHOODS

Project: Rural Livelihoods capacity building among community based organizations: Household level cashew processing by women's self help groups

Funded by:  Small Grants Scheme, Department for International Development

Duration: April 2005 to September 2006

The objectives of the project are to 

a) Develop capacity of three groups of women leading to the establishment of a sustainable household / neighbourhood level cashew processing industry 

 b) Develop awareness among women's groups about household cashew processing to motivate more groups to take up this activity in the following years.

With the assistance of Kudumbashree Poverty Alleviation Mission of the Government of Kerala, five Gram Panchayats were identified. The criterion for identifying these Panchayats was the location of cashew plantations in these areas. Meetings were held with the Village Extension Officers and Presidents of the Community Development Scheme of these Panchayats, who organised meetings with Neighbourhood Help Groups (NHG). The groups were taken to Amrutha Cashew Unit (successful cashew processing SHG developed by TIDE during 2004) to provide exposure to all enterprise-related activities. The three groups currently carrying out cashew processing are 

(a) Prateeksha Swa Sahaya Sangam, Nellikutty village, Kannur district.

(b) Prateeksha NHG, Pallikere,Kasargod

(c) Sreyas NHG.

In order to ensure energy security for the groups, a small biomass fired dryer of capacity 10 kg per batch to dry cashew was developed and installed. A training center has also been set up in rented premises in Pallikere in Kasargod district with all processing and quality control equipment like steamers, cutters, dryers, moisture meters storage containers, sealing machines. After processing, cashew nuts are graded and packed in air tight plastic containers

A manual giving details of all aspects of household processing of cashew as an income generating has been prepared. The manual contains information on manufacturers of equipment as well as other useful information. It is being translated into Malayalam and given to the three groups.  The trained groups are processing cashew and are selling them in the retail markets in the towns near their villages. They have gained experience and the quality and yield has gone up. Marketing support is being given to the groups. Assistance is being given to the groups to prepare project reports to submit to the local banks for obtaining subsidized loans under the Kudumbashree scheme.