SOPPECOM Maharashtra COVID-19 Relief
Society for Participative Ecosystem Management (SOPPECOM), Pune, Maharashtra
Contact: Seema Kulkarni
2021 Covid-19 Relief Grant: $2,500
Based on input from beneficiaries, SOPPECOM used PPI’s Covid-19 relief grant to provide seeds and training for vegetable gardens vs giving disaster relief kits. 100 women were provided seeds costing Rs. 1000/woman. The seed kits contained seeds for 15-20 varieties of vegetables including leafy greens and tubers. The PPI-funded women were part of a larger group of 225 women supported by SOPPECOM through their kitchen garden program in the Vidarbha and Marathwada regions. The women were also provided training in growing kitchen gardens and got good yields. However, the leafy greens were damaged by heavy rains. The produce was used for consumption by families of the recipients thus helping create food security, especially in times of disaster.