To provide independence, empowerment and sustainable income to help fund all the many projects , we successfully raised £80,000 (well over twice our annual income) to plant a coconut plantation – which they have called The Green Garden.
The 4.5 acre land was donated by a Japanese family in memory of their son who had volunteered in earlier years and it has now been planted with 404 coconut trees, as well as 33 Guava, 15 mango, 7 lemon and 12 nimboos trees.
The growing plantation has made its first financial return in 2021/22. Growing year on year, we expect annual income from the plantation to reach £5,000 once the trees are fully matured. This will provide self-sufficient funding to cover most of the day-to-day running costs of our main Indian partner organisation named ISARD (Institute for Social Awareness and Rural Development).
We have more recently begun to raise Goats on the land which provides employment and additional income. Additionally, rope manufacture from coconut fibre and the weaving of the long coconut leaves into panels for mats and the construction of their palm-leaf homes all provide further employment and income.
In 20 years the plantation will have generated as much income as the original donated investment. Added to this, from the start, the money invested in the process of planting and maintaining the plantation has provided training and employment to local people. Each time a coconut yield is harvested it will provide employment for 20-30 women and 3 men, and their are 5 harvests a year.
The plantation provides a calming oasis for our women and families who care for the plants and trees.