Brief
Odisha woman expands piggery and dairy venture, earning up to Rs 70,000 a month
Sanjukta Das, 62, grew a self‑help group initiative into a piggery and dairy operation that supplies milk locally and sells 40‑50 pigs each year.
By Felo News Desk · Published
At 62, Sanjukta Das of Jagatsinghpur, Odisha, has turned a modest self‑help group project into a piggery and dairy enterprise that generates Rs 60,000‑Rs 70,000 a month, according to the New Indian Express.
What happened
Das founded the Haraparbati Self‑Help Group (SHG) in 2000, initially with ten members and activities such as a PDS dealership, cooking for the mid‑day meal programme, and making incense sticks, papad and badi. In 2024 she shifted focus to livestock, investing Rs 10,000 with SHG support. The piggery expanded as each sow produced 10‑12 piglets annually, leading to sales of 40‑50 pigs per year at Rs 18,000‑Rs 20,000 each to buyers in Andhra Pradesh, Mumbai, Goa, Kolkata and other locations. The dairy unit now supplies about 150 litres of milk daily to local consumers and women’s SHGs.
What the reports add
The article notes that five people, including two women, are employed across the two units, with one former unemployed worker now earning around Rs 20,000 a month. Total investment in the venture has reached roughly Rs 10.95 lakh, comprising a Rs 3.95 lakh bank loan, Rs 1 lakh personal investment and about Rs 6 lakh spent on infrastructure and construction.
What was said
Das told the New Indian Express that her aim was to demonstrate that rural women can build sustainable livelihoods through systematic farming, creating employment for others while improving her own financial condition.
How it came about
The growth of Das’s enterprise builds on earlier SHG activities that sold products at district‑administered exhibitions. By linking her dairy unit with other women’s SHGs—such as Mahalaxmi SHG, which runs a milk collection centre—she has helped those groups earn additional income through milk collection and marketing.
Key facts
- Sanjukta Das is 62 and runs a piggery and dairy enterprise in Jagatsinghpur, Odisha. (newindianexpress.com)
- She earns between Rs 60,000 and Rs 70,000 per month from the venture. (newindianexpress.com)
- The piggery sells 40‑50 pigs annually at Rs 18,000‑Rs 20,000 each. (newindianexpress.com)
- The dairy unit supplies about 150 litres of milk daily to local consumers and SHGs. (newindianexpress.com)
- Total investment in the business is around Rs 10.95 lakh, including a Rs 3.95 lakh bank loan. (newindianexpress.com)
Sources
- [1] newindianexpress.com — originally reported as “At 62, Odisha woman rolls out a model for rural entrepreneurship”
