Empowering Women Through Sustainable Livelihoods

MDPCL empowers women through sustainable development, engaging 5000 SHG members in diverse livelihood initiatives.

Maa Durgadevi Producer Company Limited (MDPCL) is the SPV for the Udala Sal Leaf and Honey Cluster, which comprises more than 2810 women members of the Mayurbhanj district, Odisha. Among the very few clusters in India where all the beneficiaries are women, this is one of the rarest. Initially, there were 300 women farmers associated with the SPV; however, more than nine times the beneficiaries have been added to the fold. As a result, MDPCL's financials, beneficiaries, and products have grown exponentially. The cluster focuses on bio-degradable plates made out of sal leaf, Mahua products, wild Honey collection and processing, Livestock promotion and seed processing. Currently there is the buyer of the products such as Purepetal Alliance Pvt. Ltd. The cluster is shaping up the lives of tribal women by enhancing their income and skill. They are entering the mainstream with dignity and skill, on the contrary helping the family break free from poverty, lack of education, and poor health.

Business Model:
We have adopted two types of models based on the cluster's demand and sustainability.

1. We have given some stitching machines to the women who work from their homes as per their availability, and then we collect the stitched Sal leaf for further processing at the CFC.

2. Secondly, we have a van that picks up the women beneficiaries from their homes to the CFC, where they stich the Sal leaf with the stitching machines and press the Sal leaf with the machine for grading and packaging. The products are sold under the brand name 'ORAK'

The achievements of MDPCL:

• Production of Natural Sal leaf plates at different shapes.

• Developed her own brand named ORAK.

• Established marketing tie-up at national level agency and traders.

• Fastest growing women FPO in India among the tribal communities

• Poultry farming and fish farming in the farm pond

• Providing daily employment to 100 women’s in production of Sal leaf plate

• making and 300 women’s in Sal leaf Fine stitching activities across Mayurbhanj district

Recognition and Awards:

1. One of the Largest FPO in Odisha.

2. Grade “A” rating by NABARD

3. Appreciated by State level officials, District administration and Block administration during visit/presence in various FPO programmes

4. Awarded as a State level best FPO in Odisha in the year 2020 by Dept. of Agriculture & Farmers Empowerment Govt. of Odisha.

5. Best SPV of MSME Cluster Govt. of India in Dec. 2022.

6. Best women entrepreneur award by NABARD on women day 2022

7. Best women entrepreneur award by NABARD on women day 2023

8. Received Certificate of Appreciation in a state level FPO conclave organized by OUAT Bhubaneswar Odisha on (24 th August 2023) its 62nd Foundation day 2023.

Best women entrepreneur award by NABARD on women’s day 2023

Best SPV of SFURTI scheme implemented by MSME

Awarded as state level best FPO in Odisha By Dept. of Agriculture- 2020 by Governor of Odisha

Certificate of best SPV of SFURTI scheme implemented by MSME

Awarded as state level best FPO in Odisha By Dept. of Agriculture- 2020 by Governor of Odisha