Fifteen examples are shown here — there are many more. Each one is run with local groups and built to become self-sustaining.
Villagers give a day of their own labour — cutting roadsides, cleaning school grounds, digging waste pits — and farmers work each other's land unpaid.
Unity and ownership grow with every shared workday.
Years of chemicals have made most soils acidic and vegetable growing difficult. Farmers' groups are learning to rebuild soil with local resources, crop calendars, mixed cropping, rotation, bio-pesticide and bio-compost.
30+ farmer groups (about 450 farmers) made aware; 35 farmers fully chemical-free after a 3-year transition; 30 more in transition.
Support neededOrganic certification, together with the Community Based Farmers Organisation (CBOF).
The farmers' CBO in Devarshola produces organic manure at scale, using waste from a nearby sugarcane factory. In 2008 PALM2 also helped Devarshola Panchayat set up a compost unit from street waste.
Sold in 10–50 kg bags, priced a rupee below the market rate.
Support neededLand, machinery and working capital to scale up.
Dung from two cows can power two 60-watt bulbs — letting children study in the evening — and fuels cooking. It also keeps premises clean and avoids methane emissions.
Dome-type ferro-cement units, with a 35% government subsidy. Three units completed; two staff trained.
Mushrooms need little space and a dark, hygienic room. Button mushrooms were trialled at 1,000 m altitude; oyster mushrooms fetch about ₹100/kg for growers without land.
Members are trained to produce quality spawn, cutting seed costs.
Support neededA simple micro-laboratory for quality mushroom seed.
Specialised training in milk production, disease detection and animal health — plus cow and goat insurance to protect families from financial disaster. Azolla fodder raises milk yield by about a third.
1,000+ small farmers involved. A family of four can live from 20 litres of milk a day.
Since February 2009, 15 farmers have reared country broilers in flocks of 25 to 100, learning about chick varieties, chemical-free feed, vaccination and hygiene.
Women entrepreneurs can earn an extra ₹1,000 a month.
Support neededTraining in hygienic processing and packing.
Farm ponds and tanks can raise carp, tilapia and other freshwater fish. Fingerlings come from the Fisheries Department, and fish mature in 6–9 months.
Recommended by the Department with a 90% subsidy; a proposal for 60 farmers has been submitted.
Support neededFinancial support to speed up the process.
Fifteen women with limited land are learning ornamental fish culture through the Fisheries Department. It needs little space and supervision, and can supplement other income.
Staff are trained in close follow-up and monitoring.
Support neededInvestment in a retail outlet in a central location.
Day labourers and plantation workers need bread, since making chapattis early each morning is time-consuming. 25 women and men from O'Valley were trained in bread, biscuits, cakes and local savouries.
12 women are ready to run the bakery; a 35% government subsidy has been approved.
Support neededBank loan approval.
25 women of the CBO Baratham in Devarshola are being trained in professional tailoring, with orders expected from garment factories in Tiruppur. They can work within the village, close to their families.
Electric power sewing machines cost about ₹60,000 each; five are needed. A 35% KVIC subsidy applies.
Support neededMachines and equipment.
When banana prices crash in peak season, value addition protects the farmer. 25 women were trained; 12 now fry, pack and market chips through the marketing committee.
Sells at ₹80/kg, made from about 3 kg of raw banana.
Support neededA small pick-up or load auto for transport.
Tribal communities in Thalavadi collect amla, tamarind, broom grass, medicinal tubers, gums and honey. Under the Forest Department's Village Forest Committees, PALM2 supports five VFCs to add value and sell directly.
Self-help and subsidised loans for tribal women.
Support neededInfrastructure for processing amla, tamarind and honey, and training.
30 housewives from O'Valley, whose households earn no more than ₹1,500 a month, were trained to make chalk, candles, incense sticks, soaps, phenol and screen prints — plus entrepreneurship and marketing.
A second training round is planned for Thalavadi.
Support neededMoulds, dyes and starting stock of raw materials.
Areca leaf sheaths — freely available on at least 850 acres around Gudalur — make disposable plates, cups and tumblers as plastic bans spread. The CBO Malaiarasi is leading the effort.
A study visit was made to a successful producer in Thalavadi.
Support neededHydraulic power-press machines.
Many projects are ready to start and only need equipment, a loan guarantee or training. Tell us which one interests you.
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