29.05.26
Women-Owned Producer Company in Odisha Completes First Karanj Seed Sale to Terviva
Manaya Green Shakti Producer Company (PC), a women-owned enterprise based in Kaptipada block of Mayurbhanj district, Odisha, has successfully completed the sale of 1,785 kg of Karanj (Pongamia pinnata) seeds to Terviva India Private Limited. The transaction marks the PC's first engagement with the Karanj value chain and represents an important milestone in strengthening community-led, forest-based enterprises.
Karanj is a climate-resilient tree species with growing demand across the biofuel, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), renewable energy, and regenerative agroforestry sectors. Through its work in developing sustainable Karanj value chains, Terviva aims to enhance farmer incomes, support ecosystem restoration, and contribute to low-carbon, bio-based industries.
About Manaya Green Shakti Producer Company
Manaya Green Shakti PC was formed under the Sulabhaa Green Business Enterprise Leadership Cohort — a first-of-its-kind programme that aims to establish 30 women-led, forest-based enterprises across six districts of Odisha. The programme combines hands-on experience in setting up and managing a Producer Company with structured training in financial literacy, leadership, business management, and sustainable use of natural resources. It is anchored on four pillars: promoting formal women-led community enterprises, enhancing entrepreneurial capabilities, facilitating market integration, and advancing scalable and sustainable business models — aligning with SDG 5 (gender equality), SDG 8 (decent work), and SDG 13 (climate action).
Community Participation and Procurement Process
The procurement cycle involved 75 women primary collectors from 16 villages in the Kaptipada block. Collection activities began in late March and continued till mid-May during the Karanj harvesting season. Seeds were subsequently aggregated at a central aggregation centre in Kaptipada before being transported to Terviva through pickup vehicles,, with the final delivery completed on 20 May.
Women members of the PC played a leading role throughout — from collection and aggregation to quality management and delivery coordination. Around two to three virtual review meetings were conducted with Terviva, in which the Board of Directors also participated, while regular communications on price updates, aggregated volume, and pickup schedules were coordinated through WhatsApp. Joint capacity-building efforts by Terviva and the PC focused on improving drying practices, quality segregation, hygienic storage, and accurate weighment, enabling the PC to meet buyer requirements and secure better prices.
The transaction generated total revenue of ₹75,907.12 (including GST) and delivered approximately 25% higher value realisation compared with prevailing market practices — largely attributed to improved post-harvest handling, collective aggregation, and consistent adherence to quality standards.
Working capital was mobilised through a combination of sources: an advance from Terviva equivalent to one tonne of seeds, alongside the PC's own share capital and accumulated reserves.
Challenges and Key Learnings
The procurement process presented several operational challenges. Competition from local village traders — who purchased Karanj seeds at comparable prices without requiring adherence to quality standards — meant that some collectors preferred the simplicity of informal transactions over the PC's quality protocols.
Coordinating procurement and aggregation across 16 villages also required continuous field-level engagement. Despite these hurdles, the PC successfully maintained quality standards, aggregated produce at the community level, and ensured timely delivery to the buyer.
Manaya Green Shakti PC's achievement illustrates how targeted capacity-building, access to markets, and collective enterprise models can enable tribal women to build resilient businesses rooted in sustainable natural resource use.