More than 30% of our clients are involved in agriculture. The Mann Deshi Foundation, in partnership with the state and central government, organizes woman farmers and helps them gain access to market and technology. This enables them find a market for their products.The Mann Deshi Foundation also organizes fairs where women can sell their products, and annual conferences in farming subjects. In 2006 a conference held in Vaduj had 6,000 women delegates.

Under the farming program 600 SHG have been set up and 12,000 women are currently benefiting. The Mann Deshi Foundation offers a number of projects aimed at helping these women increase production and earn a higher income.

Improving Soil Quality

Farmers rely on the quality of their soil to produce a high crop yield. To help farmers achieve this aim, the Mann Deshi Foundation offers soil-testing facilities through a Kiosk Center. We also run soil testing training camps, and teach our women to compost. Composting ensures that the nutrients are returned to the soil in an inexpensive, environmentally friendly way.

Mobile veterinary services

For many women, their animals— goats, sheep, and water buffalo —are their only assets. At the veterinary training camp, women are taught the skills needed to care for their animals. Veterinary services in the Satara district are limited and expensive so by teaching women to care for their goats, they can protect the health and production capacity of these vital assets.

Women Dairies

Working in conjunction with the Federation of Self-Help Groups, Mann Vikas supports twelve cooperative dairies run by women. It provides entrepreneurial training and helps with securing credit for animals at subsidized rates.

The bank gives credit to self-help-groups of women in order to purchase mulching animals and to form dairies with their livestock. Women can thus create income, develop assets in their name, and also assert leadership through their collectives. Today, the dairies sell over five thousand liters of milk every day.