Coverage: 9 blocks across Sundarbans, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal
Duration: 2015-2018
Beneficiaries: 18,000 women through 1,550 SHGs
Objective: To empower rural coastal women through collective enterprises in agriculture, livestock and micro-enterprises supported by skill training and credit linkages.
Project Overview
This initiative was conceptualized to strengthen women’s roles in agriculture and associated value chains by building collectives and linking them to financial institutions and markets. SEED focused on enhancing capacities in goatery, duckery, farming, and small-scale enterprises. Women were trained in group enterprise management and connected to credit schemes, increasing income stability, decision-making authority, and social resilience within households.
Impact So Far
• Mobilized and trained over 18,000 women in farming, goatery, duckery, and value-added products.
• Enabled access to institutional finance and inputs.
• Supported collective marketing, leading to a 25% rise in income.
• Enhanced womens decision-making power and social security.