Vetiver helps rainfed farmers conserve moisture

Vetiver roots have long been used in South India for adding fragrance to drinking water as well as for making cool window shades for summer. Now, vetiver is being acknowledged by the World Bank and other international organizations as a farmer's friend.

Vetiver can provide many important benefits, especially for rainfed farmers:

• More than half the sown area in the country is rainfed.
• Moisture conservation is fundamental to rainfed agriculture. Farmers can control runoff and conserve moisture with the help of vetiver hedges on the periphery.
• Controlling runoff also controls loss of valuable top soil.
• The roots of the vetiver plants are very effective in preventing soil erosion.
• Vetiver can also be planted along the sides of checkdams and ponds.
• Rainfed regions are highly drought-prone. Moisture conservation using vetiver reduces chances of drought.

Caution:

• However, be careful not to plant vetiver in fields where you plan to grow crops. It cannot be easily removed and it will keep sprouting up.

Innovation helps increase income for weavers

Key innovations for weavers:

• Exposure to modern weaving techniques
• Skills development
• Fashion design
• Market orientation

The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) provides fashion design support, training and skill upgradation. It has centres in 8 locations in India including Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad. The 9th centre was opened in Kannur, Kerala in May 08.

The Indian Institute of Handloom Technology (IIHT) provides training, development and tools for the industry. IIHTs are located in Salem, Varanasi, Jodhpur, Guwahati, Nellore and Gadag.

Marketing support is available from local and state level cooperative societies such as Cooptex in Tamil Nadu.

Quality control and testing facilities:

• Textile Testing and Development Centre, Madurai.
• Your local Weavers Service Centre (WSC).

Software and tools:

• EnKay CAD solutions, Bangalore: Simple software for creating hand loom/power loom/electronic loom Dobby patterns. Free tools for creating Jacquard punch cards.
• GC's Technologies, Bangalore: Textile design software, Jacquard card punching machine popular with weavers in Dharmavaram, Kancheepuram, Kumbakonam and Karnataka.

Please note that we don't endorse any vendor.

Take a new look at growing bamboo for profit

Bamboo was not considered very profitable. What has changed?

• Bamboo product manufacturers have installed more automated machines for processing. So, there is more demand for bamboo.
• In addition to the domestic market, now there is increasing demand for export of bamboo shoots to Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Korea and other countries.
• You can now get high yielding plants by tissue culture method.
• Thorns cause problems while farming and harvesting. Now you can get thornless varieties for planting.
• Bamboo used to be labor intensive. More tools are being developed to aid farmers.
• During the year 2007–08, 200 farmers have been trained in bamboo cultivation at Forest College Mettupalayam, Tamil Nadu. During the year 2008–09, there are plans to train 2300 farmers under advanced technology bamboo cultivation.

Other benefits of bamboo cultivation:

• Bamboo can yield as much as 20 times more timber than other trees for the given size of land.
• Unlike most tropical hardwood species, which take about 30 years to mature, bamboo shoots and culms (stems) can be harvested at about three to four years after planting.
• Bamboo thrives on degraded land.

Tissue culture bamboo plant suppliers:

Sheel Biotech Ltd, New Delhi

Growmore Biotech Ltd, Hosur, Tamil Nadu

Note: Please note that we don't endorse any supplier.

Use less water and increase income with System of Rice Intensification (SRI)

The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) is an alternative to the traditional way of flooded rice cultivation. Studies carried out by Tamil Nadu Agricutural University (TNAU) in 100 locations have indicated 32 per cent water savings.

Highlights of SRI, based on a 5000 ha trial in Tamil Nadu:

• Water management that keeps the soil moist but not continuously flooded — alternate wetting and drying.
• Careful transplanting of 14-day young seedlings at wider spacing (23x23cm) on a square with only one seedling per hill.
• Mechanical weeding through rotary weeder before canopy closure.
• Higher use of organic compost as fertiliser.

In addition to lower water usage, here are the other benefits:

• Lower seed cost of just 8 kg/ha against the conventional practice of 30-60 kg/ha.
• More judicious use of fertiliser and pesticides.

Examples of farmers in Tamil Nadu who have benefitted from trying SRI:

• Mr K. Shanmugam raised SRI paddy in Mahibalanpatti in the dry Sivaganga district, harvested 8,750 kg/ha compared to 4,750 kg/ha in the previous year.
• Mr C. Ravi of Pallathathanur of Salem district realised a yield of 9,633 kg/ha using the SRI method compared to 6,483 kg/ha.
• Mrs Vijaylakshmi of Villupuram, increased her cropped area by 40 per cent with the same quantity of water.

Field studies indicate that the resultant decrease in inputs such as seed and chemicals, combined with improved yields, leads to an average increase in net income by Rs 12,719/ha, a 100 per cent increase over the conventional cultivation method.

Make more profit by using less fuel in rural brick kilns

A Vertical Shaft Brick Kiln (VSBK) in East Uttar Pradesh.

In India there are over 100,000 brick kilns employing over 8 million people, mostly in rural areas. These are the types of kilns used:

• Clamp kilns of various designs are used in central India.
• Bull's Trench Kilns (BTK) with either moveable or fixed chimneys are used in the northern parts of the country.
• Down-draught kilns are used in Karnataka.

Brick manufacturers in rural China developed the VSBK technology in the 70's. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and The Energy and Resources Institute, New Delhi along with other agencies helped transfer this technology to India. In 1996, the first pilot kiln was established at Datia in Madhya Pradesh. There are now several hundred in successful operation in various parts of India.

• The VSBK technology requires only about 105 tonnes of coal per million bricks, while BTK requires 160 tonnes of coal per million bricks.
• However, the VSBK requires a higher initial investment of 2.1 million rupees as against 1.5 million rupees for the BTK technology (2001 estimates).
• This technology is best suited for medium-sized brick kilns, about 8000 bricks per day.
• Can be operated round the year as the kiln’s roof protects it from rain.
• Requires less land.
• Produces higher quality of bricks because the kiln fires so evenly, with no over or under-fired bricks.
• More efficient use of fuel leads to lower polluting gases and lower dust emissions.

You can get design details here.

Herbal plants can be grown with saline or brackish water

Periwinkle (Tamil name: Nithyakalyani, Hindi name: Sadabahar and Botanical name: Vinca Rosea) is one of the herbal plants that can be grown with moderately saline water irrigation.

• Salt occurs naturally in soils from rocks and minerals and is present in all water except for rainwater.
• Water salinity level is rated by Electrical Conductivity level or EC. This is measured using an instrument called EC Meter. The EC of good water is 0 to 1. Sea water EC is about 45.
• Plants respond to salt differently. Many do not tolerate it at all (salt-sensitive). Others will continue to grow but yields will be substantially reduced when grown with salty water or on saline soil (salt-tolerant). Finally, halophytic (salt-loving) plants actually experience improved growth when given saline or brackish water.

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) conducted on-farm trials on over 20 different medicinal plants:

• Trials were conducted with water of salinity level 0 to 10.
• Adathoda, Aloe Vera, Nilavembu, Senna, Nithyakalyani, Coleus, Datura, Eclipta (Karisalanganni), Kanvazhikilangu (Gloriosa), Gymnema (Sakkaraikolli), Thumbai, Thulasi, Kilanelli, Isubgol, Sarpagandha, Manathakkali, Thuthuvalai and Aswagantha were grown successfully by a farmer in Idigarai, Arukutty village irrigated by well water of 2 to 4 EC.
• Another farmer, Madangopal, cultivated the following using well water of 6 EC - Adathoda, Aloe Vera, Senna, Datura, Kanvazhikilangu (Gloriosa), Thulasi, Manathakali and Thuthuvalai.

So, farmers whose irrigation wells having high salinity levels need not lose heart as some of the medicinal plant species irrigated with waters with different salinity levels show good growth prospects.

Also, demand for herbal plants is growing in the market, including for exports.

Sanitation is key for avoiding water borne diseases in rural areas

A Rural Sanitary Mart was opened recently at Veppanapalli in Krishnagiri Taluk of Tamil Nadu. This is part of the Nirmal Gram Puraskar or the "Clean Village Campaign" of the district.

Highlights of this nationwide campaign are:

• The Indian Government gives an award ranging from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 500,000 to panchayats that achieve 100% sanitation.
• Subsidy: There is a government subsidy available for people below the poverty line.
• Many states are following a community led approach with the help of Self Help Groups (SHGs).
• A model rural sanitation park was established by the District Rural Development Agency, Tuticorin district of Tamil Nadu. 22 models of village toilets are on display with prices ranging from Rs. 150 to Rs. 850.
• Haryana: Over 158,000 individual household toilets, 2,267 school toilets, 318 women sanitation complexes, 1,042 anganwari (childcare center) toilets and 60 rural sanitary marts had been constructed by end 2006.
• Karnataka has signed an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with the Department of Posts to use the village postmen to spread the message of sanitation.
• Innovative ways to promote rural sanitation are being adopted by some villages in the Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu.

Benefits:

• Water borne diseases such as cholera, gastro-enteritis, dysentery, typhoid, worm infection, jaundice and diarrhoea will be prevented.
• It could help curb the spread of infections like chikungunya and dengue as well.

RTI (Right to Information) has the potential to transform rural India

Sidhakahna Jot Keshav village in Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh is one such example. Five inspired residents of the village filed RTI applications and questioned the district administration about the conditions of the village roads and drains. They also raised questions as to why there were no allotments under the 'Indira Awaas Yojna'.

The administration immediately acted and the construction of the roads and drains began in the village. Since then, 32 villagers have been allotted the houses under the 'Indira Awaas Yojna' and the administration has displayed a list on the village wall, containing the names of the villagers eligible for the allotments under the scheme.

Under the RTI (Right to Information) Act, any citizen can request the following from any Government department or undertaking:

• inspect works, documents, records.
• take notes, extracts or certified copies of documents or records.
• obtain information in form of printouts, or in any other electronic mode.
  

How to request information:

• Apply in writing or by email in English or Hindi or in the official language of the area, to the Public Information Officer (PIO), giving the details of the information required. Here is a sample RTI application.
• You don't have to give the reason for seeking the information.
• Application fee is Rs. 10. In addition, you have to pay about Rs. 2 per page for making copies. People below the poverty line are exempt from the fees.
• In Bihar you can file an RTI application by making a phone call.
  
• There are many Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) that help citizens in filing RTI applications. Please inquire in your area.

Telemedicine brings better healthcare to rural India

With the help of a trained ophthalmic technician, a patient from Aravind Eye Hospital’s vision centre, Ambasamudram consults with an ophthalmologist doctor in Theni in Tamil Nadu.

Benefits of telemedicine:

• Reduces the cost for rural patients who have to travel long distances to the town where the doctor is located and also stay there, alongwith their family members, for the duration of the consultation.
• Provides access to specialists.
• Health coverage for remote and difficult to reach areas.

Examples of other hospitals providing telemedicine services are:

• Narayana Hrudalaya, Bangalore: Narayana Hrudalaya Telemedicine Network runs through 26 locations in India and abroad, offering video consultation round-the-clock, primarily for heart patients from remote areas. Using ordinary telephone lines, a large number of ‘family physicians’ are networked with Narayana Hrudalaya for early diagnosis of heart attacks.
• Apollo Hospitals Group has a very large telemedicine network including remote locations such as Aizawl, Mizoram.
• Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi has a unique mobile unit which is as well equipped as a small hospital.

To expand the telemedicine network, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has signed Memorandum of Understanding with the following hospitals:

• Manipal Hospital, Bangalore.
• Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi.
• Madras Diabetic Research Foundation, Chennai.
• Dr Venkatrao Dawle Medical Foundation, Ambajogai (Maharashtra).

ATMs are becoming more accessible to rural India

In India there are about 30,000 Automated Teller Machines (ATM) as of late 2007. Most of these are located in urban areas. However, now Banks are extending this service to rural areas through the following steps:

• Banks are beginning to introduce ATMs in rural areas.
• Some banks have started providing ATM cards to Kisan Credit Card (KCC) holders. As a result of this, these farmers need to go to the bank only to get their KCC loans sanctioned. After that, they can do most of their transactions using an ATM machine.

Also, ATMs are being introduced with features that makes it easier for rural people to use:

• Lower cost ATMs designed by IIT, Madras and IIT, Bombay.
• Voice navigation in local Indian languages.
• Fingerprint verification.
• Back-up power to ensure smooth operation during power failures.
• Can work in dusty environment.

Better rural credit through the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) and the Swarojgar Credit Card (SCC)

The Government of India introduced the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme in 1999.

According to a recent survey report, over 65 million KCCs had been issued by early 2007.

This credit, typically, covers the working capital needs of the farmers for a crop cycle. You borrow the money when you need to buy inputs such as seeds, tools, fertilizer, pesticides and labour. Once the crop is harvested and sold, the amount has to be repaid. The credit becomes available again for the next season. This helps the farmers to avoid traditional money lenders and the exorbitant interest rates charged by them.

In 2004 this scheme was expanded to cover more types of loans:

• Term loans for agriculture and allied activities.
• A reasonable component to meet consumption needs.
• Many banks also offer Personal Accident Insurance Scheme at a very nominal premium.
• Some of the banks have launched KCCs that can be used in an ATM machine.

The Swarojgar Credit Card Scheme (SCC) was introduced in 2003. The SCC aims at providing working capital and term loans to small artisans, handloom weavers, fishermen, self employed persons, rickshaw owners, other micro-entrepreneurs, self help groups (SHG), etc. Farm sector activities like fisheries, dairy, etc., can also be covered under the scheme. About half a million SCCs had been issued by Sept 2006.

You can get a Kisan Credit Card or a Swarojgar Credit Card from any of the following:

• Commercial banks
• Co-operative banks
• Regional Rural Banks (RRB)

Tissue culture plants help increase yield and profits

Theni District of Tamil Nadu is the emerging hub for tissue culture banana variety called Grande Naine.

Plant tissue culture, also known as micro propagation, is gaining popularity due to the following advantages:

• Higher yield
• Resistant to disease
• Saplings available throughout the year
• Mass propagation of selected elite varieties
  

The following are examples of plants that are being successfully propagated in large scale through tissue culture in India:

• Fruits: Banana, Pineapple
• Sugar cane: Sugar factories are increasingly using tissue culture plants.
• Spices: The Spices Board, Cochin, has brought large area under tissue culture cardamom and vanilla cultivation through involvement of progressive farmers.
• Medicinal plants: Aloe, Safed Musali
• Flowers: Carnation, Gerbera
• Trees: Sandal wood, Eucalyptus, Teak
  

The Department of Biotechnology has set up two micropropagation technology parks:

• The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi
• National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), Pune

Central and Sate Government subsidy is available for planting tissue culture plants as well as for exporting plant products. Please check with your local Agriculture Office.

Some banks like Canara Bank have also been financing tissue culture projects as a priority.

The Sixth National Competition for Rural Innovations

Raisin grading machine invented by Ramdas Madhavrao Jagtap of Nashik, Maharashtra that won a National Award in the Third Competition.

The best three inventions and traditional knowledge practices will be awarded Rs 1,00,000, Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000 each in different categories. There will be several consolation prizes of Rs 10,000 each in different categories.

• Type of inventions: Can be in machines, gadgets, implements, or processes for farm operations, household utility, transportation for improved efficiency, energy conservation or generation, and reduction in drudgery, creative use of biodiversity, plant varieties, generation of herbal remedies for human or animal health or developing new or any other low cost sustainable green technology.
• Who can apply: Individuals or groups who have achieved distinction in improving quality and productivity.

Your invention may also qualify for additional funding by Micro Venture Innovation Fund for the following:

• Incubation and business plan.
• Testing and prototype development.
• Pilot scale production.
• Commercial production.

For example, Hyderabad-based Matrix BioSciences, signed a deal with NIF to license some of these inventions. Matrix plans to put the name of each inventor on the label. It will share profits with the inventors.
Products launched by Matrix include:

• A natural pesticide that fights mites and prevents leaf-curl disease, developed by Popatbhai Rupabhai Jambucha, an illiterate farmer from Gujarat.
• A herbal pesticide that keeps aphids, white flies and mealy bugs away, made by Arkhiben Mithabhai Vankar, a village healer and midwife.

How to participate:

• Individuals or groups may send as many entries as they wish on plain paper providing a) genesis of innovation and traditional knowledge b) background of innovation and c) background with complete educational qualification of the innovators/ traditional knowledge holders, accompanied by photographs and/or videos if possible and any other information that may help in replicating the innovations/traditional knowledge. Herbal entries may be accompanied by dried plant samples to enable proper identification procedure.
• Last date: December 31, 2008
• Where to send entries: National Coordinator (scouting and documentation), National Innovation Foundation (NIF), Satellite Complex, Bungalow No 1, Premchandnagar Road , Jodhpur Tekra, Ahmedabad 380015 Gujarat or by email to: campaign@nifindia.org

Low cost method for disinfecting water in the village

How does it work?

1. Get clear bottles made of plastic or glass with lid. Wash the bottles well the first time you use it.
2. Now fill up the bottles with water fully and close the lid.
3. Place the bottles on a corrugated iron sheet exposed to sunlight.
4. Or put them on the roof, as shown in the picture.
5. Leave it in the sun for at least 6 hours.
6. The water is now ready for use.

• Uses solar UV-A radiation and higher water temperature due to sunlight to inactivate pathogens causing diarrhoea.
  
• Reduces risk of water-borne diseases, especially diarrhoea.
• Process developed by the Swiss Department of Water and Sanitation in Developing Countries.
• You can read about the results of trials conducted near Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu.

Other tips:

• Use clear bottles, not colored bottles such as brown or green.
• Do not use very large bottles, not more than 1 to 2 litres.
  

Low cost, smokeless stove for rural households

Smokeless biomass 'Oorja' stove that runs on burning pellets made up of agricultural waste being used in a house at Aviyur in Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu.

Over 5,000 rural households in Madurai and Virudhunagar districts now have smokeless kitchens. No longer do housewives have to put up with irritation in their eyes by blowing into the traditional ovens. Nor do they have to bear huge LPG cylinder bills.

• Developed in conjunction with the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
• A mini-fan, powered by rechargeable batteries, blows air to fan the flames.
• Costs Rs. 675.
• A family of six consumes about six bags of pellets (a 5-kg bag costs Rs. 20) and three litres of kerosene. This combination of fuel costs about Rs. 147 a month, whereas the family was spending Rs. 390 a month earlier.
• Pellets are made from agricultural waste such as sugarcane bagasse, groundnut husk and maize cobs.
  
• Available in parts of Tamil Nadu, Maharastra, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.

Limitations of the biomass stove:

• Making `dosas' and `chappatis' is a problem, as the stove generates excessive heat.
• Once it is lit, it cannot be stopped unlike LPG or kerosene stoves.
• Refuelling cannot be done midway. The entire ash has to be replaced, and the stove has to be lit afresh. However, this can be done in a few minutes.

Business school for rural women who have no formal education

A woman who has successfully completed the training program at Mann Deshi Udyogini — Micro Business School for Rural Women — in Satara district of Maharashtra.

Training program provided by Mann Deshi Mahila Sahakari Bank and its sister NGO, the Mann Vikas Samajik Sanstha, in association with HSBC.

• To help the women become entrepreneurs and access the benefits of micro finance.
• A free counseling session helps tap the interest and possible skill sets of the women. They are then encouraged to take the requisite course.
• The courses will range from just a day to 10 days.
  

Topics covered:

• Vocational training in technical skills such as computer training and bag making.
• Financial literacy.
• Marketing techniques and communication skills.
• Confidence building.

Contract farming is good for farmers

Prakash Kulkarni of Vilaspur in Bidar taluk, Karnataka, who has been growing Coleus forskohlii (makandi beru in Kannada) on a contract basis for four seasons.

According to a recent study, profits earned by contract farmers are more than that of non-contract farmers.

• The advantage that accrued to contract farmers was mainly due to savings in production and marketing costs.
• The contractor often provides seeds and other inputs as well as technical know-how.
• The farmers are often trained in improving quality through better post harvesting techniques.
• Contract farmers are being offered relatively higher prices than the prevailing market prices mainly for better quality and as an incentive for ensuring a regular supply.

Other examples of contract farming:

• Marigold is being grown in Vallam and Sengipatti in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu.
• Coleus forskohlii and turmeric are being grown in Salem district of Tamil Nadu.
• The National Agricultural Co-operative Marketing Federation (Nafed) has begun a pilot project to grow potato through the contract farming route in Indore.
• Agro Tech Foods Ltd is planning to go for contract farming to produce sweet corn most likely in Warangal district.
• Godrej Agrovet Ltd intends to take up cultivation of oil palm under contract farming in Joida, Karwar and Yellapur taluks of Uttara Kannada district.
• Hatsun Agro Product Ltd has signed up with SBI to provide loans to dairy farmers for a contract farming programme.

First online trading of horticulture crops to start in 2007 December

Pilot electronic trading in mangoes conducted in June 2007 at the Regulated Marketing Committee delivery center at Pochampalli, Krishnagiri District, Tamil Nadu.

Safal National Exchange (SNX), promoted by Mother Dairy (National Dairy Development Board) jointly with private companies, is planning to launch nationwide online trading in fruits and vegetables in December 2007.

• Initial launch planned to cover apple, mango, banana, potato, onion and tomato.
• Actual traded prices will be displayed on the trading screen in markets across the country.
• Farmers on bringing their produce will grade and sort them at the delivery center as per the quality standards specified by SNX.
• SNX will undertake an inspection and issue a quality certificate to the farmers. SNX will also facilitate warehousing and logistics facility. Products that meet the required norms including size, quality, colour and shape alone will be allowed for trading.
• The delivery needs to be completed before the next day of trading. A penalty of 10 per cent would be imposed on farmers if they failed to deliver the produce after trading.
• Delivery of products to the buyer would take place once the payment is received. A penalty of 10 per cent would also be imposed on buyers if they failed to pay and lift the commodity after trading.
• SNX will pay the farmers after they receive the payment from the buyer and process it.

Benefits to farmers:

• Farmers can know the prices being realized across the country. They will have the option to conclude price for their produce for sale prior to harvest.
• Fewer middle men and lower transaction cost.
• Payments are guaranteed by SNX.
• Quality certification protocol administered by SNX.
• Improvement in post harvest practices for better shelf life and quality of grading, packing and overall delivery, match with rapidly rising expectations of quality by consumers.

Technology helps marginal farmers to grow jasmine in off season

About 60-70 marginal farmers of Kariapatti in Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu during the past two seasons have successfully raised commercial jasmines.

• There is demand for jasmine round the year. However, farmers find it difficult to grow them during the lean months of December and January.
• The local agri clinic (under the Ministry of Agriculture scheme to facilitate technology transfer for farmers) has helped them.
• A carefully evolved plant-tending practice is set in motion well ahead of winter. This includes application of the right volume of soluble fertilisers combined with flowering stimulation (required dosage of phosphorous) that convert every bud formed into a flower.
• 5-6 kg of flowers were harvested daily on average from a 20-cent area.
• The agri clinic also guides farmers raising brinjal, lady's finger and onion as well as paddy growers.
• For example, the clinic focuses on technology intervention to enhance brinjal productivity by preventing potential fruit-bearing flowers from withering.

Microfinance boosts agriculture, water resources and other rural income

Bhagyamma Vadla in Chityala, Andhra Pradesh was able to get a small loan for buying water buffaloes. She is now able to get a steady income by selling milk.

Small loans for farmers in Theni, Ramanathapuram, Kancheepuram and Madurai districts of Tamil Nadu helped to build land and water assets.

• Rejuvenation of tanks and ponds in Theni district.
• Focus on fertiliser in Sirumaniyendal in Ramanathapuram district.
• Combined with life insurance for reducing risk and vulnerability of families.
• Microfinance groups used the common funds to immediately close tank breaches during flash floods in Madurai district.
• Savings have also improved. Six microfinance groups in Ponpadhirkoodam in Kancheepuram district have a total saving of Rs. 1.97 lakh.

Some of the microfinance lenders:

• SKS Microfinance: Has 507 microfinance branches in 14 states mainly in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh. Loans for a range of income-generating activities, including livestock, agriculture, trade (such as vegetable vending), production (from basket weaving to pottery) and new age businesses (beauty parlor to photography).
• SHARE Microfin Limited: Has 312 microfinance branches mainly in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
• Gramin Koota: Has 44 microfinance branches mostly in Karnataka.
• SEWA Bank: Mainly in Gujarat.
• Spandana Charity Trust: Mainly in Andhra Pradesh.
• ICICI Bank, Canara Bank and other banks.
• In Tamil Nadu, you can contact Dhan Foundation for more details on microfinance options for water and agriculture. Dhan can be reached at 26280236 (Chennai) or 04522601673 (Madurai).