Agartala, October 4: A small vermicompost venture started in 2019 has grown into a diversified rural enterprise for Junu Bala Roy, a member of Joy Ram Self-Help Group under Natun Alo CLF, who has become a ‘Lakhpati Didi’.
Roy began producing vermicompost with limited resources and gradually expanded her activities with access to loans through community-based organisations and specialised training from RUDSETI under the Tripura Rural Livelihood Mission (TRLM).
She currently operates 30 vermicompost pits and supplies organic fertiliser to farmers. She has also diversified into seed trading, vegetable cultivation and fishery, creating multiple sources of income.
During peak seasons, her monthly sales exceed Rs 5 lakh, while her profits are estimated at around Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh, according to details shared about her enterprise.
The venture has also created livelihood opportunities for six other self-help group members, enabling Roy to extend the benefits of her enterprise to others in the community.
Roy’s journey highlights the role of self-help groups and access to credit and training in helping rural women establish and expand income-generating activities.
The training provided through RUDSETI helped her develop skills related to vermicompost production and enterprise management, while financial assistance through community-based organisations supported the expansion of her activities.
Starting with vermicompost, Roy gradually added other livelihood activities, including seed trading, vegetable cultivation and fishery. The diversification has allowed her to generate income from multiple sources while serving farmers and consumers in the local area.
Roy now plans to further expand her vermicompost production unit and scale up the enterprise.
Her experience also demonstrates how women associated with self-help groups can move beyond small-scale livelihood activities and build enterprises that generate employment for others.
The ‘Lakhpati Didi’ initiative focuses on enabling women members of self-help groups to achieve sustainable annual household incomes of at least Rs 1 lakh through diversified livelihood activities.
Roy’s enterprise has grown through a combination of training, institutional support, access to credit and diversification, providing her with a sustainable source of livelihood.
Her success has also encouraged other members of her self-help group to participate in income-generating activities and explore opportunities for improving their livelihoods.
The initiative is aimed at strengthening the economic participation of rural women and helping self-help group members build sustainable enterprises.
Roy’s continued plans to expand vermicompost production indicate her intention to further strengthen the enterprise and create additional livelihood opportunities in the community.
