08.08.25
Formation of a Women-Led Producer Company Initiated in Udaipur, Lahaul–Spiti District, Himachal Pradesh
The process to establish a producer company (PC) in Udaipur sub-division of Lahaul–Spiti district, Himachal Pradesh, has begun. The first orientation meeting for mahila mandals and self-help groups (SHGs) was jointly organised by the Initiative on the Forest Economy (IoFE), led by the Indian School of Business (ISB), and the local administration on 8 August 2025. Approximately 70 women from different villages participated, with the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Udaipur, Ms Alisha Chauhan, in attendance.
The sub-division spans five distinct regions—Miad (Miyar) valley (8 villages), Nainghar (5), Jhalma (14), Udaipur (14), and Tindi (8)—and is rich in seasonal forest products (SFPs), particularly in Miad, Nainghar, and Tindi. Prominent SFPs include kala jeera (black cumin), gucchi (morel mushrooms), kadu (Indian gentian), patish (Indian aconite), dhoop (resin), and ban lahasun (wild garlic).
A PC is a body corporate of primary producers—such as farmers, forest gatherers, and artisans—formed under the Companies Act, 2013. It enables members to collectively undertake activities related to their produce, such as harvesting, processing, marketing, and selling, thereby improving value realisation and bargaining power. The PC model blends the community focus of a cooperative with the structured governance of a private company.
Orientation and Knowledge Sharing
The meeting introduced participants to the PC model and its benefits for communities.
Sessions highlighted:
the linkage between Community Forest Resource Rights (CFRR) and PCs;
insights from the successful Pir Panjal Jungle Producer Company (PPJPC) in Pangi Valley;
processes for PC formation, selection of a Board of Directors (BoD), and registration; and
practical lessons from PPJPC’s first hazelnut sale, which generated income for members, along with the plans following its Annual General Meeting (AGM).
These discussions provided women with a clear roadmap for establishing a PC in Udaipur.
Adverse weather restricted participation from Tindi, Jhalma, and Nainghar in this initial meeting. Nevertheless, women participants shared challenges in SFP marketing and expressed strong interest in forming a PC modelled on the PPJPC.
To take the process forward, an ad hoc committee of 15 members has been established. This committee will:
facilitate region-wise meetings for BoD selection once weather and road conditions improve; and
mobilise women from SHGs and mahila mandals, as well as unaffiliated women from the community, to ensure comprehensive participation across all five regions.
This inclusive approach aims to create a strong, women-led PC that strengthens livelihoods, streamlines value chains, and builds on Udaipur’s natural wealth