Opportunities for gainful employment are limits in rural areas.
Productivity of existing trades and crafts is not at optimum levels
because of constraints of resources, appropriate technologies ,
entrepreurnial skills, micro finance, limited local demands and lack
of knowledge of alternative markets for their produce and services.
Energy is one of the crucial resource constraints- GEDA therefore
proposes to promote locally appropriate renewable energy
technologies , devices and systems with a market/commercial thrust
to catalyze opportunities for rural income generation. A revenue
model would serve the dual purpose of stimulating development and
perhaps more effectively ensure the acceptability and sustainability
of renewable energy technologies, not with the immediate
beneficiaries, but also the local populace and the clients for the
products and services.
GEDA together with the Agriculture Tools and Research Centre (ATRC) at Bardoli
will establish a Renewable Energy enterprise run by a Self - Help
Group of women. The project is a demonstration project to explore
avenues for women's empowerment through Renewable Energy based
Entrepreneurship Development.
The ATRC enterprise will include a Renewable Energy Service Station,
a Canteen and Snack bar which will serve foods worked with renewable
fuels such as biogas and solar energy. A special feature of the
project will be to develop unique value added natural Energy Food
products that are made using the goodness of the sun. Recipes and
markets will be developed for solar snack and sun-dried food
products.
The Self Help Group of Women will be trained in Operation
Maintenance and Repairs of Renewable Energy Systems. They will also
receive training in the processing of Sun processed foods and snacks
and Entrepreneurship management The renewable energy enterprise will
be operational by early November.
Product ideas for solar snacks and sun dried foods solar processed
foods are invited from solar enthusiasts. Please send us your
suggestions for products and market ideas at the earliest |
