Support an agribusiness run by Tamil women

In December, we held a workshop to train a women’s self-help group (sangam) in making various tomato products, at which we distributed saplings for them to grow.  Their tomato plants are now brimming with ripe tomatoes, and the women have begun preparing tomato jam from them, using a family recipe one of them contributed.  Everything they have made so far has sold out almost immediately within the village. The jam was flavoured with lemon and ginger juice, and sweetened with jaggery (made from unrefined cane sugar, date sugar and/or palm sap).  It was a wonderful recipe:  we tasted some and it was delicious!

At their meeting this month, the women organized themselves into 4 teams, responsible for jam preparation, tomato pickling, tomato papad (a snack similar to potato chips), and marketing respectively. One member has volunteered her tea shop as a location to sell their products. They are also collecting monthly dues that will help to keep the membership constant and that can be tapped by any of the women as a loan when needed.  They have has set up an accounting log and a book for recording the business decisions the women make collectively. 

VOICE Trust will use the funds you donate to this project to provide the spices and other additional ingredients, as well as branding and marketing support; the women have volunteered to provide all other required supplies (cooking utensils, oil, etc.).  

A brand name, which we will print on labels for them, will provide a recognizable identity for their products.  Suggestions welcome!