“The heat is just too much! But pineapple and roselle juice sell well”

Ibadapmon Barim’s home veranda in Khweng village smells like chopped pear. At 32, she runs her food processing business with her mother and sister, making pickles, jams, juices, and wine. 

Iba started this business in 2024 after taking a processing class under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana. Prior to this, she relied on her husband, a daily-wage worker in construction and agriculture, and her mother, for income. The course taught vital techniques: sodium prevents cut fruits from oxidising, and pectin and citric acid bring the jams desirable consistency.

This year, until June, the venture earned ₹52,000 in revenue, and the sum expenses were over ₹21,000. While some costs are avoided by sourcing from neighbours, who sell wild fruit growing in their yards at a discount, financial constraints often slow production. “[Still] our production never stops; we just [reduce the quantities],” Iba says.

Challenges arise from the lack of last-mile connectivity to Khweng. While the products are only sold at Khweng market and local eateries, Iba travels to Shillong—23km away, costing ₹100 each way—to source ingredients or orders them online. The women are keen to increase production, but without the funds to expand reach beyond Khweng, potential income is lost. 

The bodily toll is also immense. Non-stop stirring causes severe wrist and back pain. On large-order days or when high quantities of perishable fruits come in, Iba cooks from 9 am to midnight, packing the next day, all while juggling caring for her sons, Tomanbha, 10 and Brightenstar, 6. On these days, household chores are done after the work is complete. 

High blood pressure and power outages that risk fresh produce make summers especially difficult for Iba. “The heat is just too much! But pineapple and roselle juice sell well,” she confesses. “When the heavy labour brings less return, I tell my mom I want to look for a private job [instead]. She tells me to be patient.” 

But there is financial relief in this work. “My life changed since we started making [this] money. The worry of school fees has subsided, we no longer have to work for others.” She just hopes that her sons won’t have to do manual labour too.