In an effort to give a fillip to sale of products made by Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in the State, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) helps the groups market their products at exhibitions and during festival seasons.
According to V. Suresh, Assistant General Manager of the bank, for the last three years, the NABARD has been organising exhibitions in Chennai during Navarathri festival.
Sales
Last year, 28 stalls were put up by the groups and they had total sales of Rs. 10 lakh. At least one group participates from each district in the State.
Shopping is high during festivals and this is an opportunity for the SHGs to market their products.
The groups display any product made or marketed by them. Volume of sales depends on the marketing skills of the groups and their products.
One of the groups that participated in the exhibition from Coimbatore registered nearly Rs. 1 lakh sales at one of these exhibitions, he says. The NABARD also organises accommodation for the SHG members who participate in the event.
The Small Industries Product Promotion Organisation, promoted by the NSIC and the TANSIDCO, has proposed a similar event (Coimbatore Utsav 2010) here this year. It proposes to have about 150 stalls to promote products made by SHGs supported by the NABARD. It has sought financial support from the bank for this.
Mr. Suresh points out that some of the groups here are already helped by NABARD to put up stalls at some of the annual events and exhibitions here.
Training
The NABARD also extends financial assistance to SHGs for skill training and to establish permanent outlets for their products, he adds.
