Blog posts

In rural areas, accessing loans from formal financial institutions is often a difficult process. People are required to produce numerous documents and secure guarantors before a loan can be approved. Even when, they manage to obtain a loan, the burden of high interest rates, makes repayment challenging. As a result, many rural residents avoid seeking loans altogether, discouraged by the complicated procedures and heavy financial costs involved.

Before the Cooperative: A Life of Struggles

Benjamin Marak, a resident of Kentrikona village in South West Garo Hills, is the Secretary of the Kentrikona Integrated Village Cooperative Society (IVCS). Before the IVCS was established on September 19, 2017, life was far more challenging for him. He relied on small-scale business activities and daily wage labor, earning just enough to meet his family’s basic needs. Savings were almost nonexistent, and financial insecurity weighed heavily on him, an experience shared by many rural workers with limited opportunities for growth.

In the rural areas of Garo Hills, most women remain heavily dependent on their husbands for financial support. Their daily lives are consumed by household responsibilities and childcare, leaving them with little opportunity to pursue independent ventures. This lack of exposure not only prevents them from achieving financial empowerment but also limits their ability to emerge as leaders within their communities. As a result, many women are unable to participate meaningfully in decision-making platforms or contribute to broader social development.

Training and Skill Development

Kenila strengthened her entrepreneurial journey by attending a 10-day intensive training program at the Bolmoram Training Centre on piggery farming. This program provided her with hands-on experience and practical knowledge in areas such as pig rearing, feed management, disease prevention, marketing strategies, and overall farm management. The training not only improved her technical skills but also boosted her confidence to run her enterprise more efficiently and profitably.

Pineapple is one of the major fruit crops cultivated in the East Garo Hills district. The region is blessed with abundant production, and this fruit has been an integral part of the community’s agricultural tradition since the time of their ancestors. Despite the plentiful availability of pineapples in the district, farmers face significant challenges in marketing their produce. The lack of proper market linkages and fair pricing mechanisms often prevents them from receiving the value they truly deserve for their hard work.

Rural communities, despite their rich agricultural potential, often face critical challenges such as fragmented value chains, limited access to platforms that connect them directly with buyers and a lack of collective mechanisms to process and market their produce, resulting in unfair pricing and reduced income opportunities.

Rural communities often depend on traditional farming and livelihood practices that provide basic sustenance but rarely allow families to rise above subsistence levels. Limited access to modern techniques, financial services, and structured support keeps many households trapped in cycles of uncertainty. To break this barrier and expand opportunities, rural families require consistent handholding, through financial assistance, training, and cooperative institutions that can help them diversify income sources, adopt improved practices, and build sustainable livelihoods.

In earlier days, most families in rural areas relying on one sole earner to support everyone. Growing up in such an environment, Lolindha Ch. Sangma from Dabram in South Garo Hills developed a strong determination to ease her family’s burden. From a young age, she looked for opportunities to contribute, always eager to do something meaningful that could bring in earnings and help her loved ones. Her spirit of initiative and willingness to shoulder responsibility set her apart, reflecting both resilience and a deep sense of family commitment.

Many rural tribal communities continue to rely on traditional methods of cultivation. While these practices carry cultural value, they are increasingly unsustainable in today’s context. Years of continuous farming have reduced soil fertility, and limited farmland makes shifting cultivation difficult. Climate change further compounds these challenges, leaving farmers vulnerable. To overcome these issues, there is a growing need to integrate traditional wisdom with modern agricultural techniques, ensuring higher productivity and long-term sustainability.

Turning Point: The Establishment of IVCS

Although the Chengkaldare Integrated Village Cooperative Society (IVCS) was formed in 2019, Aneth’s village was included only in 2023. That same year, he became both a member of the cooperative and an Off-Season Vegetable (OSV) Service Provider. This marked a decisive turning point in his life and livelihood.

In today’s generation, even in rural communities, women are emerging as leaders at the forefront of societal transformation. One such inspiring figure is Senge R. Sangma, a member of the Bakrime Integrated Village Cooperative Society (IVCS), based in Chima Apal village in the North Garo Hills.

Self-Taught and Self-Made

Senge worked entirely on her own, without financial assistance or external support, relying solely on her determination and resourcefulness. Without formal training, she taught herself the craft by reading books and watching instructional videos on YouTube. Her personal activity gradually evolved into a mission to empower others.

Gender Empowerment through IVCS.

Many rural women face significant barriers to employment and entrepreneurship, as domestic responsibilities and childcare often limit their opportunities for personal and professional growth. Despite these challenges, Loritha Momin, a resident of Chotcholja village in North Garo Hills, chose to break free from these constraints. Married at an early age, she nurtured a strong desire to achieve financial independence and contribute to her family’s income.

She actively showcased her products at exhibitions, gaining visibility, customer trust, and higher sales. These opportunities not only boosted her income but also allowed her to repay her IVCS loan on time— marking another milestone in her inspiring journey.

Meghalaya is blessed with naturally fertile soil that supports a variety of fruits. However, in rural areas, nearly half these fruits go to waste due to low prices and lack of market access, leaving farmers with minimal earnings. This challenge led to a transformational initiative in the South West Garo Hills region of Kerupara, spearheaded by Mr. Salbison, who sought to add value to local produce through processing.

Setting up a Processing Unit

Formation of Kerupara IVCS

Determined to improve market opportunities for farmers, MBMA’s MLAMP Project officially established Kerupara IVCS on September 24, 2019. The group started with 15 members, including 5 women, providing a platform for collective progress.

Impact on Local Villages

The IVCS covered four villages—Kerupara, Chopapara, Megapgre, and Santogre—benefiting 400 households with a population of around 700. As awareness grew, more farmers joined, eager to take advantage of better market opportunities and reduced fruit wastage.