Adivasi communities reap benefit of co-operative producer company

The produce of Adivasi communities in the Nilgiris, including honey, beeswax, shikakai, amla, soapnuts, coffee, pepper, silk cotton and millets are sold by Aadhimalai.

Adivasi shareholders part of the Aadhimalai Pazhangudiyinar Producer Company Limited, which was recently awarded the Equator Prize 2021 by the UNDP, now get better prices for their value-added produce due to the company.

Registered in 2013 as a producer company, produce of Adivasi communities in the Nilgiris, including honey, beeswax, shikakai, amla, soapnuts, coffee, pepper, silk cotton and millets are sold by Aadhimalai.

“Through our livelihood projects in Keystone Foundation, value addition was made to much of the produce. Aadhimalai was started to ensure that local communities get better prices for their produce through collective bargaining,” said Snehlata Nath, founder-director of Keystone Foundation.