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Product Development, Processing and Production

The intent of Kaigal Trust is to develop products through value addition of local bio-resources by the local communities so that the economic benefit reaches the communities, particularly women and youth and the producers and collectors.

The key elements of this approach include identifying appropriate bio-resources for value addition keeping in mind sustainable harvest practices besides training on appropriate processing and value adding techniques. Different categories of products are developed with raw materials sourced from different ecosystems so as to reach out to more suppliers, reduce risks and increase the resource base for the enterprise. This is also to enable a stable livelihood for the communities.

Selection of raw materials and development of products

While there is a significant body of knowledge among the tribals on forest based produce in this region, the final selection is based on some criteria that were established based on the core philosophy of Kaigal Trust.

Criteria for selection

  1. SUSTAINABILITY– Takes into account different aspects of sustainability including:
    1. Status of population in the wild
    2. Ease with which the species can be regenerated in nurseries
    3. Ease with which they can be grown outside of the forests in plantations, gardens, fields etc
    4. Extent of sustainable harvesting practices followed by suppliers
    5. The probability of good economic value for sustainable returns
  2. GENERAL HEALTH BENEFITS – The bio-resources have general health values (rich in micro- nutrients such as vitamins and minerals etc.) as documented through medical texts or local/traditional knowledge persons. The existing knowledge sources (including doctors and literature), and local medical systems can provide the information.
  3. ECOLOGICAL SAFETY – Some important criteria are that the value addition processes and the final products developed from the bio-resource should be non-polluting.
  4. OPPORTUNITY FOR SIMPLE VALUE ADDITION– The produce should be amenable to simple processes of value addition that can be learnt without difficulty by unskilled women and youth.
  5. MARKETABILITY – The products developed must have a market, particularly in urban areas to bring in a flow of money from the urban to the rural population.

Kaigal Trust produces products in 5 different categories

  1. Health & Wellness
  2. Pickles & Preserves
  3. Kitchen Staples
  4. Personal Care
  5. Cleaning products
  6. Hand – Crafted Products