UJAGAR GROUP
               WON THE 1st PRIZE IN VILLAGE ADOPTION PROGRAMME {VAP -7}
                                          & OVERALL ANNUALY 3rd POSITION

                                                PRIDE MOMENT FOR UJAGAR GROUP

ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN ABHIVYAKTI MAGZINE OF NIFTEM BY VINTI SINGLA.

                                       BY

GO BUY A HEALTHY THING

It gives me immense pleasure in writing a success story of VAP; where the discussion is restricted not just to the entrepreneur but to the product. Indeed I am talking about the little thing that wraps numerous benefits inside. Mahendra Patil our entrepreneur from Kurhe Panache who initially identified entrepreneurship as a means for generating additional flow of wealth has realized the luring opportunities lying ahead in this field. Also now he has got something to call his own and to work for it whole heartedly.

Patil, 28, pooled in few thousands to start his venture under the guidance of our team, Ujagar, in Village Adoption Programme -IV. Soon after the training and procurement of the raw material we started with the production of turmeric pickle keeping the age old legacy of homemade pickles alive. Indian households are well known for their obsession for traditional pickles and launching a healthy pickle was just the correct icing on cake. Soon after enough stock was ready we made our way to the market. Next on the cards was to look for a good order and to ensure the continuity in demand and supply for the pickle.

For this we surveyed extensively through the markets of Bhusawal but our efforts didn’t reap significant results. The solution rested in novelty of both processing and packaging techniques which would bring the required crescendo in sales of the product. So the groundnut oil (used in manufacturing) was replaced by sunflower oil and the use of sealing press to prevent any sort of leakages was employed in creating turmeric pickle.

In this way turmeric (a traditional medicine) was clubbed with the goodness of sunflower oil which made it a ‘healthy thing to buy’. Thus we had something to give us an edge over our competitors.

But establishing the product in the market was the real challenge for which a good marketing plan was required. This time we shifted our focus to big retail shops like Big Bazaar and other famed shops; Masala Centre, Sai Jeevan and various others in our vicinity. All went off well except for the retail shops where we had to raise the pitch by introducing bar code and getting various certifications from top regulatory authorities in the country. The various exhibitions where we marketed our product also showed record breaking sales with the entire stock sold in the initial few days. This motivation ended with FDA registration which our team got for the product last VAP.

If this is much then are you ready to go buy by the healthy thing?????..........    

                                                                                             -Vinti Singla  ( B. tech 2 year)

                                                                    

NIFTEM Village Adoption Programme

Academic Year 2014-2015 ,  Visit VII

17/09/2014-26/09/2014

ACTIVITIES DURING VAP

• DONATION OF BOOKS  AT THE SHIVAJI VACHNALAYA. AFTER VAP VI TOTAL NUMBER OF BOOKS WERE 66 AND NOW IT IS 83.
•  MET PRINCIPAL  OF RAJARAM DHONDU MADHYAMIK VIDHYALAYA Mr. V D MAHAJAN AND FINALISED THE PLAN AND ORGANISED SCIENCE EXHIBITION,RANGOLI COMPETITION AND LECTURE ON CAREER COUNSELLING  AND SCHOLARSHIP SCHEMES IN  SCHOOL.

• VISITED  KVK, PAL.
• MET Dr. ISHWAR SINGH (PROGRAM CO-ORDINATOR, KVK PAL) AND DISCUSSED THE FEASIBILITY OF SOME BANANA PROCESSING PROJECTS WITH HIM.
• MET MR. AJIT PATIL (AGRICULTURE RESEARCH SCIENTIST)
• MET WITH THE MLA OF PAL MR S.M. CHOUDHARY AND DISCUSSED ABOUT THE PROBLEM FACED BY CULTIVATORS.
• VISITED BRICKETING PLANT AND CATTLE FEED PLANT AT KHIRODA.

• We went to Jamner for marketing of Samarth pickles by installing a stall near the bus stand. There were different varieties of pickles including mango,turmeric,lemon  and sweet chilli. There was huge demand of pickle in market and we sold out  50 packets worth Rs 2500 in just 2 hrs which is a very big achievement for an entrepreneur. Pickles were available in 100g and 250 g pack. We also talked to retailers to keep samples of SAMARTH pickles.

• Traditional preservation techniques were compiled in a booklet. Booklet had various categories like cereals, fruits and vegetables, meat products and pickling techniques.
• Processed ready-to-eat pan and validated the recipe for the same which is planned to be linked with suitable entrepreneur. We made the pan mix at Dr. TT Bari’s house.
• VAP booklet has been printed.

• INTERACTION WITH OTHER SHG GROUP.
•  INTERACTED WITH DIFFERENT SHOPKEEPERS INCLUDING VINOD PROVISION STORE AND KEPT SAMARTH PICKLES SAMPLES IN DIFFERENT SHOPS TO BE SOLD OUT.
• PUT A STALL NEAR VINOD PROVISION STORE TO DO MARKETING OF “SAMARTH PICKLES”.
• FIXED MEETING WITH THE TWO INTERESTED ENTREPRENEUR.

• DEVELOPED A ONION STORAGE STRUCTURE.
• VISITED DRDA (DISTRICT RURAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY).
• HELD MEETING WITH MCED (MAHARASHTRA CENTRE FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT) AT DISTRICT INDUSTRIAL CENTRE.
• HELD MEETING WITH G.M. SOMVANSHI (DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT OFFICER , NABARD).
• VISITED  REGIONAL OFFICE OF CENTRAL BANK OF INDIA AT JALGAON REGARDING TRAINING OF SHGS.
• MEETING WITH DR. A.B. BOKHARE.

• VISITED DISTRICT SUPERITENDENT OFFICE OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. THERE WE GAVE PRESENTATION ON SUCCESS STORY OF SAMARTH PICKLES.
• VISITED VIKAS DAIRY AT JALGAON.
• WENT TO CHIKKI PROCESSING UNIT OF “OM MAHILA GRIHA UDHYOG” AT JALGAON.
• HELD MEETING WITH AN ENTREPRENEUR INTERESTED IN BANANA CANDY FROM BANANA PSEUDO STEM.

• MET MR. GAYKE AND DISCUSSED ABOUT THE MARKETING OF SAMARTH PICKLES.
• VISITED DIC, JALGAON AND DUSCUSSED REGISTRATION PROCESS OF OUR SHG ENTERPRISE WITH MR. SARKATE.
• VISITED JALGAON JANTA BANK REGARDING ANY SCHEME RELATED TO SHG IS REGISTERED IN IDBI BANK.
• COLLECTED INFORMATION ABOUT BAR CODE WHICH CAN BE USED IN OUR SHGs PRODUCTS.
• COLLECTED INFORMATION ABOUT DIFFERENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED FOR SHG PRODUCTS.
• WE OBTAINED THE CONTACTS FOR GETTING THE WEBSITE DESIGNED FOR OM GRIHA UDHYOG.
• MOVIE SHOW IN THE VILLAGE AT KRANTI CHOWK.

VISIT OF DR. AK DHAWAN IN OUR VILAGE KURHE PANACHE

• A NEW SHG WAS IDENTIFIED GAYATRI BACHAT GAT.
• RALLEY ON WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN WHOLE VILLAGE LEAD BY SUNIL.
• GUEST LECTURE ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT BY MR. RAGIB AHMED.
• CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION WAS GIVEN TO MR. RAGIB AHMED AND NEHA WAGUNDE ( MCED EXPERTS).
• MEETING WITH THE ENTREPRENEUR WHO IS INTERESTED IN PROCESSING OF DAL AND BANANA.

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•          MET MR. ANIL DEVIDAS PATIL AND INTRESTED ENTREPRENEUR AND SUGGESTED HIM TO PROCESS BETEL LEAVES INTO INSTANT PAN.  
•        DISTRIBUTED CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION TO WINNERS OF RANGOLI MAKING COMPETITION  ORGANISED AT VILLAGE SCHOOL
•        ATTENDED WORKSHOP ON LIVELIHOOD DEVELOPMENT ORGANISED BY DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE JALGAON DISTRICT.       
•   PRESENTATION ON SUCCESS STORY OF SAMARTH PICKLE AT WORKSHOP ON LIVELIHOOD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME AT JALGAON.

• COLLECTED INFORMATION FOR OM GRIHA UDHYOG REGARDING HOW TO GET BARCODE FOR HIS PRODUCT.

How to Get a Barcode on Your Retail Product Label

Although there is no law that you must have a barcode, most retailers and distributors will require you to have one for inventory and sales records purposes.

If you are planning to sell your products in a retail market, you should register your product with GS1. GS1 is a global keeper of barcodes. You will be assigned and registered to your own unique barcode that identifies your company as the maker of the product. GS1 will provide you with a unique 12 digit UPC (Universal Product Code) or EAN company identification number that you will enter into a UPC-A or and EAN-12 barcode on your products label. By having a registered barcode, your retail product can be scanned and the information embedded in the code will be in the system ready to go.

Of course, barcodes are just one component of a retail label. If you have a small business in the USA, you might be interested in reading these tips regarding the FDA labeling exemptions for food products.

Keeping Better Inventory and Reducing Errors with Barcode Labels 

Barcodes can also help you to keep a better inventory of your own products, especially if your product line is large and diverse. You can create special barcodes to best fit your numbering and inventory system.  By printing a label with a barcode on it, you can simply scan your barcode rather than rely on someone taking a physical inventory. This not only saves time and money, but it also tremendously reduces the risk of human error.

Having the wrong information in your supply chain or business operation can wreak havoc. These errors can account for business being lost and for higher operating expenses. Your information is one of your most valuable