“I am very proud to have become a successful entrepreneur, but still have a long way to go,” says 76-year-old Karthyayani Amma, a businesswoman and leader from Kottathara Gram Panchayat in Wayanad District of Kerala.
Karthyayani Amma comes from an agricultural household, and has been cooking using naturally grown herbs and traditional varities since her childhood. Her speciality lies in preparing Vaduku, a traditional delicacy made up of chundakkai (turkey berry) and rice that is a popular dish in Wayanad Though selling Vaduku in nearby areas earlier, her business came to a halt after the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2022, she learnt about the Keravriksha Farmer Producer Organisation facilitated by Swayam Shikshan Prayog and its outlet store in Venniyode and immediately saw an opportunity to resume her business by selling her famous Vaduku in the store.
After approaching the local SSP leader, she signed up to become a shareholder of the Keravriksha FPO as well. For the past 6 months, Karthyayani Amma has attended a variety of trainings organised by SSP to strengthen FPOs, including leadership development, product standardisation and business development. Her enthusiasm and eagerness to both learn new things and share her own experiences as an entrepreneur have made her very popular amongst the other FPO members. She has been selected as a Community Resource Person and recognised as an expert in training other members on product creation.
Today, Karthyayani Amma is earning around Rs.300 per month by selling her Vaduku in the Keravriksha FPO outlet. She is very confident in the idea of FPOs, especially since she learnt about the importance of collectives and sees how women are becoming empowered after joining the FPO. An inspiration to others, Karthyayani Amma is always happy to share her own recipes and learnings with younger entrepreneurs and help them rise up.
Swayam Shikshan Prayog
May 04, 2023