Value Addition – A venture Adding Value to the livelyhood
Smt. Bhagirathi Bhat , a house wife hailing from a religious Hindu family from remote Karva village of Honnavar Taluk of Uttara Kannada District  in Karnataka.  Her husband is a local priest with only 1  acre of arecanut garden , which was the main source of livelihood.     All was fine till her husband’s illness in 2006, which confined him to bed.  It was inevitable for this innocent lady with minimal primary education to take up any work to lead her family.  Smt. Bhagirathi was not deterred by this setback, the knowledge she had on processing and medicinal value of indigenous under exploited minor forest fruits which have high neutraceutical   and medicinal value came in hand to her.  She has encashed her own indigenous knowledge, skills , limited resources and with  technical guidance from Mr. D D Sharma , M/S Ashoka Kokum Industry, Gokarna in 2007  in  preparing Syrup and Squashes from Indigenous minor forest fruits  through process of osmosis and juice extraction . She made her humble beginning with preparation of 20 kg Kokum Syrup and started selling in the local market.  Today she is producing nearly 26 tonnes of value added products like squashes, juices and syrups using  kokum, brahmi, amla, local ginger, pineapple, honey, Cynadon dactylon(Garake) , white pumpkin, honey etcs. All the raw materials are local varieties which have high medicinal value.  Initially she produced with the raw materials available in her garden , as the demand for her products increased she  started procuring the raw materials from other farmers , thus providing other farmers an opportunity to earn money. Her son  Shri. Ganapathi R Bhat along with his wife ,  joined hands with his mother in fruit processing and handling of honey.  Now it is a family venture with her son and daughter in law and made it as a viable unit.   She is engaging three women labours on regular basis.  Today, the venture which she started with initial investment of Rs.5000/- has reached to Rs.18,00,000/-   per annum and her net income has increased from Rs. 10000 to Rs. 39,00,000/-  per annum.  The products are sold throughout South Karnataka in the brand name “Swastik” and has market linkage with Kadamba , a co-operative society located at Sirsi and Pragati – a small scale industry located at Mudabidre. MAJOR PROCESSED PRODUCTS : Kokum syrup,Kokum kadi,Amla Syrup with and without sugar,Lemon Ginger Syrup,Lemon Honey Syrup, Pineapple Syrup,White Pumpkin Syrup,Garike Syrup,Brahmi Syrup ,Other (Honey)
Considering her achievement ,University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad has honored her with Shreshth Krishi Mahile Award in 2012 .   She is one women entrepreneur who believes in her strength, dignity and potential and   has not undergone any formal training nor taken any loan or subsidy.  Smt Bhagirathi Bhat is one representative of simple rural women who can change the scenario of this country through secondary agriculture.   The venture is the best example of Mahatma Gandhiji’s Gram Swaraj dream for the Prosperous India.
Contact Details : Smt. Bhagirathi R Bhat, Swastik Gramodyog Malige Post:Karwa- 581424 Taluk: Honnavar District: Uttara Kannada Karnataka State Ph: 08387-279791  Cell: 9845053024