India Entrepreneurship in Poor Communities

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India’s economy has experienced tremendous growth in urban industries such as services and information technology. However, around 172 million Indians continue to live in poverty and of these, 69 percent live in rural areas. More than two-thirds of the population depends on agriculture—mostly at a small-scale or subsistence level—for their livelihoods.

69% of Indians live in rural areas.

TechnoServe works with women and men across rural India to:

Strengthen value chains: We work closely with smallholder farmers to enable them to grow high-value products, engage with private-sector companies and sell in profitable markets.

Foster entrepreneurship in poor communities: We provide business training and skills development support to women and men who want to create thriving, sustainable enterprises.

Support sustainable local economic development: Our market-led approach increases incomes for target groups, while also catalyzing economic and social development for the whole community.

Promote gender-inclusive communities: We integrate a gender lens throughout our programs and provide tailored support for women to expand their opportunities for sustainable livelihoods.

Country Director Joydeep Dutt smiling at the camera

Joydeep DuttCountry Director, India

B1 - 201 Centre Point
Opposite Bawla Masjid
243A, NM Joshi Marg
Lower Parel (E)
Mumbai 400013

Strengthening Food Security for Rural Families in India

As part of its global signature cause program, Breakfasts for Better Days, the Kellogg Company is partnering with TechnoServe to build a more sustainable and secure food future for smallholder farmers in Madhya Pradesh, India. By providing training to improve yields for farming businesses and by working with women from farming households to implement kitchen gardens, the partnership is increasing incomes and access to nutritious foods for rural families.

Agriculture

Agriculture Projects in India

Blog Posts

Resources

From India to Malawi: Seepage Wells

A case study from Feed the Future India-Africa Agriculture and Natural Resource Management Innovation Sharing Platform…

Creating Technology-Enabled Inclusive Markets

Lessons learned from a pilot project leveraging an electronic trading platform for small-scale and marginal women farmers in Bihar, India…

Agri-tech Innovations in the Farmgate-to-Fork Ecosystem: Prospects for improved value creation and capture for farmers

Click Here to Download the PDF…

Digital Casebook – Sustainable Livelihoods for Smallholder Farmers

Report Highlights: Sustainable Livelihoods for Smallholder Farmers

Smallholder Farmers and the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

TechnoServe programs in 10 countries interviewed smallholder farmers to see how they have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and how they are responding to the crisis.

World – June 2019

Cashew is Key; Beneficiary Spotlight: Beatrice Njau; Tools Help Micro-Retailers; New Initiative Leverages Technology for Greater Social Impact; and more.

World – March 2019

Coffee & Women’s Economic Empowerment; Young Women in Mumbai Breaking Employment Barriers; Women Agronomists in Ethiopia Improving Gender Equality; and more.

World – September 2018

Breaking New Ground for Congolese Coffee; Integrated Techniques Bring Success to Smallholder Farmers and the Environment; Paving the Way for a Drug-Free Peru; and more.

TechnoServe India Profile

Download an overview of our work across India.