Training Women for Sugarcane Entrepreneurship in Haliyal

If you visit Mundwad village during planting season, you’ll notice something quietly powerful taking shape—not in the fields, but in the hands of a small group of determined women. Here, in the heart of Haliyal’s sugarcane belt, a new kind of rural entrepreneurship is taking root. It began with a simple idea:What if women could turn the region’s most abundant crop into a steady source of income? In 2019, that idea took form as the Mundwad Sugarcane Bud Nursery, created through a partnership between CherYsh and EID Parry Ltd. The goal was clear—equip women with the skills, tools, and confidence to grow and sell high-quality sugarcane buds, a product always in demand among local farmers. Where Training Meets Opportunity Three women from Mundwad stepped forward first. They travelled all the way to Nellikkuppam in Tamil Nadu, where EID Parry runs a specialized training center. There, they learned the science and technique behind cultivating healthy sugarcane buds—knowledge rarely accessible to rural women. When they returned, they didn’t just bring back skills.They brought back possibility. Soon, a group of five women formed the first livelihood collective in Haliyal. With training, seed funding, and ongoing expert guidance, they set up the nursery and began their first cycle of cultivation. A Business Begins to Bloom The results came quickly. The group started selling saplings at a profit, proving that women could lead agro-allied enterprises just as effectively as men—sometimes even more so. Their success sparked curiosity in neighboring villages, where more women are now exploring similar opportunities. Growing More Than Sugarcane What’s happening in Mundwad is more than a livelihood project. It’s a shift in how women see themselves—as entrepreneurs, as contributors to the local economy, and as leaders shaping the future of their communities. With each sapling sold, confidence grows.With each training completed, possibilities expand.And with each new group formed, Haliyal moves one step closer to a thriving, women-led rural economy.

Karakushala Kendras: Where Craft Becomes Community in Haliyal

Walk into the village of Mundwad on any quiet afternoon, and you’ll hear it before you see it—the soft rhythm of wool being looped, stretched, and woven. Inside a modest room, sunlight spilling across the floor, a circle of women sit together, laughing, sharing stories, and creating something beautiful with their hands. This is the CherYsh Karakushala Kendra, a space born from tradition, talent, and the simple desire for women to come together. For generations, the women of Haliyal have carried with them a treasure trove of skills—intricate hand embroidery, delicate crochet, quilting techniques learned from mothers and grandmothers. These crafts were often practiced quietly at home, admired within families but rarely seen as a pathway to income or independence. Yet the talent was unmistakable, and the need for a shared space—somewhere to learn, create, and grow together—became impossible to ignore. In August 2019, that space finally took shape. A Room Full of Possibilities The first Karakushala Kendra opened its doors in Mundwad, and twenty-two women stepped into a new chapter. Here, they began crafting woollen shawls and stoles using the traditional Khilla technique—a method involving a wooden board and nails, transforming simple yarn into vibrant, patterned fabric. What began as a gathering of skilled hands soon became a gathering of confident voices. The women registered themselves as an SHG, taking ownership of their craft and their enterprise. Decisions were made collectively. Designs were chosen together. Every finished shawl carried not just the warmth of wool, but the warmth of community. A Second Home for Craftswomen The success of Mundwad sparked something bigger. In the nearby village of Jogankoppa, another group of women came together—this time to create stunning crochet tapestries. Their Kendra became a place where creativity flowed freely, where women who once doubted their abilities now taught others with pride. And this is only the beginning. Plans are already underway to open more Karakushala Kendras across Haliyal, each one a small but powerful hub of skill, sisterhood, and self-reliance. More Than Craft—A Community Reimagined What makes these Kendras special isn’t just the artistry. It’s the transformation that happens quietly, day after day. Women who once worked alone now collaborate. Those who hesitated to speak now lead discussions. Income that once felt uncertain now arrives with dignity and consistency. In these rooms filled with yarn, needles, wooden boards, and laughter, something deeper is being woven—a stronger, more confident community of women who know their worth and shape their own futures. The Karakushala Kendras are not just centers of craft.They are centers of courage, creativity, and collective strength.

Karakushala Kendras: Crafting a Community in Haliyal

Women in Haliyal possess various handicraft skills, such as embroidery and crochet. To share these abilities, the “Karakushala Kendra” was established in Mundwad in 2019, allowing them to create woollen shawls. Additional centers are being planned in other villages. The women in Haliyal have several skills which includes specialised hand embroidery, crochet and quilting among several other handicrafts. Many of these skills are handed down from elders while some are acquired by women during their life’s journey. The need for a space where women can come together became critical. They needed a place to put their skills to use and share techniques with each other. A “cherysh Karakushala Kendra (Handicraft Centre) was inaugurated in Mundwad village in August 2019. Twenty two women work as a group in this village. They make woollen shawls and stoles using the “Khilla technique.” This technique involves a wooden board and nails to make beautiful pieces of fabric in myriad colours. The women have registered their group as SHG and the operations of the enterprise are carried out under its ambit. Another Karakushala Kendra was started in the village of Jogankoppa where women make tapestries using crochet technique. Efforts are in progress to open more “Karakushala Kendras” in the villages of Haliyal.

Training Women for Sugar Cane Entrepreneurship in Haliyal

The Mundwad sugar cane bud nursery initiates agro-allied livelihood groups in Haliyal, empowering women through income-generating opportunities in sugarcane cultivation. Supported by EID Parry Ltd., training has enabled local women to successfully sell saplings and explore further business ventures. The sugar cane bud nursery in Mundwad is the first step towards setting up agro-allied livelihood groups in Haliyal. Haliyal is part of the sugarcane cultivation belt. It offers a bright opportunity for women. They can earn regular income from growing and selling sugarcane buds. This entrepreneurship was developed in partnership with EID Parry Ltd. which is a major sugarcane industrial house in Haliyal. Three women from Mundwad made the idea a reality. They came forth to take training in sugar cane bud cultivation. This training came from the center run by EID Parry at Nellikkuppam in Tamil Nadu. The first group was formed by five women from Haliyal. They are supported with training, seed funding and expert advice from cherysh and EID Parry. The business is progressing successfully as the group has started selling the saplings at a profit. More such opportunities are being explored in the villages of Haliyal.

KLE Tech University Students Transforming Villages Through RITE

Rural Innovation Through Education (RITE) is a collaborative volunteer initiative with KLE Tech University, where engineering students engage with children in Haliyal villages, with over sixty college students participating so far. Rural Innovation Through Education (RITE) is a volunteer programme, implemented in collaboration with KLE Tech University, Hubli. Engineering students from the University engage with the children in the villages of Haliyal through the programme. More than sixty college students have participated in the RITE programme so far.

CherYsh Skilling & Entrepreneur Program

Women empowerment is one of the cornerstone principles at CherYsh. Some pivotal programs under this principle are the “CherYsh Skilling Program” and the “CherYsh Entrepreneur Program.” These programs empower women and help them escape agricultural bondage and debt cycles, enabling them to sustain their families and support their children’s education through CherYsh’s after-school learning programs. These efforts uplift communities by improving living standards and promoting financial independence. With a strong presence across 50+ villages, CherYsh continues to foster economic resilience by empowering rural women, nurturing their potential, and ensuring long-term sustainability for their ventures. CherYsh is addressing the challenges faced by rural women in Haliyal district, including limited work opportunities, underutilized skills, and barriers to market access. An example is quilt making, while a valuable skill, is labour-intensive and often unsustainable due to insufficient demand. To tackle these issues, CherYsh has launched an Entrepreneurship Development Program aimed at empowering women to build sustainable businesses. The program includes training in business development, financial literacy, project writing, and marketing strategies. Partnerships with organizations like KLE Tech University, Selco and the Deshpande Foundation provide mentorship and support to help women establish and manage sustainable enterprises. Additionally, the program offers financial literacy training, scheme orientation, and market linkages, indirectly benefiting over 200 women. Key Initiatives for Women’s Livelihoods Rural Teaching A Flagship Program: Learning Facilitators & Technology Educators: CherYsh has developed one of the most recognized Learning Facilitator (LF) & Master Trainer programs in rural India, partnering with esteemed institutions to ensure excellence in training. Key collaborators include: Transformational young women that aspire to be confident educators from Haliyal’s rural communities are selected for a rigorous 12-month LF program. The curriculum focuses on pedagogy, technology, and subject expertise in English, Math, and Computing. Weekly coaching sessions ensure participants develop into capable educators with regular incomes. Innovative Training Approach This flagship program not only empowers women with teaching skills but also transforms them into independent, confident contributors to their families and communities.