Rekha Sharma from Hoshiarpur district, Punjab started a Self-Help Group (SHG) where she majorly works on food processing. We majorly work on the processing of Harad, Baheda & Amla which usually is not given much importance thus, I decided to make an SHG which utilizes the natural products as these are highly nutritious and good for health, she told at Krishi Jagran FTB Facebook Live.
Sharma uses these products on daily basis and even suggests that if all of us will consume these then they do not need to go to the hospital so frequently. She said we have processed and made various products such as Citrus Squash, Lemon Juice, Litchi Juice, Mango Juice & Karonda juice which boost immunity. Other products are pickles, Chutney, bamboo pickles to cure people with joint pain.
Thus she had processed various fruits which use to get waste to sell them and market through proper channel. We market our products ourselves and have sold them nationally and internationally.
She added that they sell these products at Kisan Melas and also via social media and e-commerce platforms. We have been awarded various national and state awards and Kisan Melas. We have also been certified for food processing. We have also represented ourselves in various universities such as Sher-e-Kashmir University, Punjab Agricultural University, etc.
Sharma further told us we have started from scratch with a group of women and began by processing all the fruits which were destroyed by wild animals. Our products are being liked nationally and internationally. I would like to convey to all women that tough times come for all once and we must face the tough times from which we must learn to live life successfully in a new way.
She advised that we should see which crops are grown more in our area and work accordingly. Not just harvesting and selling, we should go for the processing which will not only give more income but also increase the self-life of crops.
We started in 2013 with just 13 members with a concept of saving Rs. 20/ member/ month. We had no income at that time so the members left the group as they had no income. The remaining 10 members were still with us but were not supported by the families to join the group. Then, the Pradhan of our village helped us to work together. Today we have 300 members.
You can contact Rekha Sharma at +91 70875 59562 or even send us orders through our website which is http://www.ssm-self-help-group.apnikheti.co.in/.