We are identifying strategies for rural women to generate self-sufficient and sustainable incomes. After doing extensive investigation, we settled on the manufacturing of honey. We planned WellBee and decided to make it a microfinance effort. We discovered that honey extraction is a practical source of extra money for rural women. They can set up artificial beehives on their fields and get an extra income of over Rs 40,000. The yield from farming is also increased by honeybees. As a result, women may assist farmers while also enhancing their quality of life with the additional income from Wellbee.

1. PROPOSAL
PROJECT

2. Executive Summary
SADGUNAM is a project started by students of
CHIREC International School to promote
financial literacy and support microfinance
initiatives.
SADGUNAM is conducting financial literacy
classes for underprivileged youths. We are
finding ways for rural women to earn
sustainable and self-sufficient livelihoods. We
researched several possibilities and finally
zeroed in on honey production. We decided to
make it a microfinance initiative and planned
WELLBEE.
We found honey extraction is a viable source
of supplementary income for rural women.
They can install manufactured beehives on
farmland, and generate nearly Rs. 40,000 in
supplemental income. Honeybees also aid in
improving agricultural productivity. Thus, by
using Wellbee, women can help farmers while
improving their quality of life.

3. PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Self Help Groups (SHGs) are associations that rural women form to save, take
loans, and create an independent livelihood for themselves. We plan to
leverage existing SHG infrastructure in Telangana to support women in
practicing beekeeping. Alongside honey, bees also produce other useful
byproducts like beeswax and bee pollen. These can, in turn, be used to
produce organic substitutes for daily life essentials; for example, natural
cosmetics.
Further, honeybees also have a significant benefit to our natural environment,
and their introduction can help reverse some of the damage that has been
caused by modern agriculture.
Benefits to the SHGs:
By installing man-made beehives on their lands, these women can earn a
supplementary income from selling honey and other byproducts produced by
the bees. The presence of bees can also result in an increase in the yield and
quality of their crops by 62% on average. Combined with the revenue from
selling bee products, this gives them a significant income boost.
Benefits to the Environment:
Honeybees are a crucial part of any ecosystem. They are responsible for
pollinating plants, allowing them to produce the fruits and vegetables that
we consume. The presence of honeybees also increases pollination and
biodiversity in an ecosystem. Honeybees also help reverse the damages
caused by chemicals to plants.
Target Audience:
The target audience of this initiative will be farmers with orchards, not crop
based farmers like those who grow paddy, wheat etc. This is because those
crops do not flower for a long enough period. As a result, the bees cannot
produce enough honey for the business to be profitable.
Sacred Honey Beekeeping is an organization that provides all the necessary
infrastructure for training women in beekeeping and honey extraction. This
organization was established over a decade ago and is being run by
entrepreneur Ms. Indira Reddy. We are collaborating with her organization to
provide beekeeping training to these women free of cost.

4. RESOURCES NEEDED
Sacred Honey Beekeeping: organization that provides all the necessary
infrastructure for training women in beekeeping and honey extraction.
This organization has been in existence for over a decade and is being
run by entrepreneur Ms. Indira Reddy. We are collaborating with her
organization to provide beekeeping training to the women in the SHGs
free of cost.
A minimum of Rs. 6,00,000 to obtain the honey production equipment
and beehives for a 10-women self-help group. Each women receives 10
beehives in this model.
A reputed suitable NGO that has relationships with large corporates. It
will help in identifying an SHG and help in managing the microfinance
side of operations.
Identify large corporations that are willing to give CSR funds.
FINANCIALS
We predict the business to be cash flow positive in the very first year,
indicating the potential of growing honeybees. The interest rate on the
loans is calculated at 18%, which is typical in microfinance. The
repayment has been split into 5 equal payments to be made over 5
years. Also, since this entire operation is managed by the women, they
incur no labour costs. The first instalment of the loan will be paid in
year 1 at the end of the financial year. The cash inflows (incomes) are
calculated using current prices and assuming a fixed number of
kilograms of honey, beeswax and pollen production per year.

5. Crowdfunding- we will put up a crowdfunding pitch on Ketto, Impact-
Guru and Milaap to attract donations to fund this project
Corporate funding: through the NGO, we want to approach large
corporates and pitch this project to them. If they accept, we plan to use
their CSR funds to bankroll this project
Friends, Family and Neighbours
Fundraising events: we also plan to conduct events for fundraising such
as charity sports games, runs etc.
We plan to raise the Rs. 6,00,000 required through a variety of means. These
are the ones which we consider most viable:
FUNDRAISING STRATEGIES
PRODUCTS
Honey: sells at Rs.500/kg on average
Beeswax: sells at around Rs. 715/kg
Pollen: sells at Rs. 120/kg

6. OPERATIONS AT A
GLIMPSE
Formation and deposition: Bees collect nectar from flowers and store it
in honeycombs inside wooden beehives.
Collection: Beekeepers use smoke to pacify the bees and remove the
honey-filled frames from the hives.
Uncapping: The wax caps that seal the honey cells are cut off with a knife
or a machine.
Extraction and storage: The frames are spun in a centrifuge to extract
the honey, which is then stored in tanks or containers. To save costs, we
will be using a manual, hand-operated extractor over an electric one.
Heating: The honey is heated to prevent crystallisation and kill any
bacteria or yeast.
Filtration: The honey is filtered to remove any impurities, such as wax,
pollen, or bee parts.
Packing: the honey is bottled and labelled into 500ml bottles before
shipping to the retailers or wholesalers.

7. Beeswax can be sold wholesale to suppliers
Honey can be sold under the Sacred Honey Beekeeping
organization, which already brands and sells honey. We can leverage
our collaboration for this purpose.
MARKETING & SALES

8. CONCLUSION
We are seeking Rs. 6 lakhs in funding to finance this initiative to help
one SHG of 10 women. This project will yield an annual income of nearly
forty thousand rupees for each of these women. The added benefits of
doing this project are improved farm productivity and better
environment quality. Furthermore, the repaid loan amount can be used
to expand this project to reach out and support more SHGs in the
future.

11. GLIMPSES
FROM
TRAINING
SESSIONS