Striving for inclusive growth of India’s villages

Striving for inclusive growth of India’s villages

It was under the leafy boughs of a banyan tree that the seeds for Banyan Roots, Women on Wings’ latest business partner, were first sown. It was founded as a means to bridge the divide between urban consumers and traditional -mainly female- farmers, giving health-conscious consumers easy access to affordable, nutritious food while ensuring sustainable farming for the farmers.

Fair – ethical – healthful
Banyan Roots Organic Private Limited (Banyan Roots) promotes and preserves traditional food and farming practices, as well as indigenous seed diversity. In doing so, it works on creating a community-based, localized and replicable model for locally grown and processed food in the Southern Aravalli hill region, Rajasthan. It focusses on increasing bio-diversity, improving the income of local -female- farmers and implementing toxic, chemical-free agricultural processes. It also encourages conscious decision-making among Indian consumers with regard to their food production and consumption choices.

Growing number of female farmers
Through all its initiatives, Banyan Roots aims to empower farmers with the tools, platforms, knowledge and support necessary for economic and technological self-sufficiency. Women on Wings and Banyan Roots are collaborating on realizing these goals. To bring Banyan Roots to the next level and connect more female farmers, Women on Wings provides the required business knowledge. The first strategic session on creating the roadmap to 2020, was recently held in Udaipur where Banyan Roots also has its own retail outlet. This is the foundation for building a stronger company and growing the number of female famers involved.

“Through this partnership with Women on Wings, we want to enable more women to earn their own income that will give them greater financial means to improve their livelihoods. Economic independence for women means more children can go to school, more meals per day for their families and communities, and an overall better standard of living for them and future generations”

Ilan Vuddumalay
C&A Foundation

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