Gram Shree Project - Rajasthan
The Gramshree Custard Apple Project (GCAP) was established in 2019 to help tribal women earn more from the perishable produce they collected, specifically by preserving the pulp and selling it frozen to ice cream manufacturers. Custard Apple, popularly known as ‘Sitaphal’ in India, is a delicious and nutritious fruit. In India, it is estimated that around 55,000 hectares of land are used for cultivation of this fruit. Rajasthan is one of the major Custard Apple growing states in India where tribal women assist in production of this perishable and seasonal fruit as their only source of income.
What’s the problem?
Tribal women collect seasonal produce such as the custard apple (Sitaphal) from the forest as their only source of income. This nutritious fruit is typically sold to ice cream manufacturers for less than the market value. Due to COVID, many migrant families traveled back to villages which left several individuals unemployed.
What are we doing about it?
Prior to this project’s establishment, tribal women used to sell the perishable fruit by the roadside for 6 rupees/kg. Since the development of this project, however, the Producer Company (established as part of GCAP) pays these women ~12 rupees/kg and also employs them to separate out the pulp, providing an additional source of labor and income.
In addition to this major improvement, the Gramshree Custard Apple Project’s other benefits include the creation of self-help groups to provide more access to resources and improve family well-being and the provision of alternate job opportunities, such as vegetable cultivation, when custard apples are not in season. Within just a few years of its establishment, the project thus far has:
Provided employment to 250 tribal women in a processing plant
Lowered the collective rate of purchase for seeds and fertilizers
Provided education, masks, and rations to 1500 families during the COVID pandemic
Trained over 1500 families in commercial vegetable cultivation, thereby providing each family with an additional income of 15,000 to 25,000 rupees
About the Team
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Rakesh Kumar, MD
PROJECT LEAD
Rakesh has been with Gramshree since 2014, and is currently Managing Director.
Rakesh studied Livelihood and Marketing from Coady International Institute, Antigonish, Canada. He has 11 plus years of experience in the development sector, in establishment of value chains like Dairy, Custard Apple pulp & institutions like Producer Company and SHG based Federation. Had experience of leading state level microfinance initiative of Tata Trust Sakh Se Vikas.
He led the establishment of Custard Apple Value Chain in Tribal Block of Pali District in Rajasthan. The assignment includes Development of business plan and supporting SRIJAN field team in its actual execution, ensuring the marketing of the final product. It also includes the establishment of Producer Company and SHG federation.
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Namita Pandey
PROJECT LEAD
Namita is a lead member of the Gramshree Project.
In terms of background, Namita has a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from, Pantnagar College of Engineering and Technology, with 11 years of experience in the development sector in livelihood promotion, institution building and Human Resource.
The IFA liaisons for this project are Rajesh Sahai and Jyoti Sahai. For any questions regarding this project and its efforts, please email us at info.indiafriendsassociation@gmail.com with the liaison names in the Subject line.
Thank You!
