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Aadhimalai is Ours

“Aadhimalai is a company for the Tribal people here. We are all joint owners”

Aadhimalai - By the People, For the Forests

Aadhimalai Pazhangudiyinar Producer Company Limited (APPCL) is a community-owned enterprise built by the indigenous people of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Formed in April 2013 with support from Keystone Foundation, Aadhimalai was created to strengthen the livelihoods of tribal communities through fair, sustainable, and locally rooted economic opportunities.

What makes Aadhimalai unique is that it is entirely owned and operated by tribal producers—farmers, foragers, artisans, and cattle rearers—who are deeply connected to the land and forests they depend on. Across 147 villages, they cultivate organic coffee, pepper, millets, and pulses, and sustainably harvest honey, amla, soap berries, phoenix leaves, and more from surrounding forests.

This collective was born from a simple but powerful need: to create stable markets, ensure fair prices, and protect traditional knowledge systems in the face of market fluctuations and exploitation. By cutting out middlemen and adding value close to the source, Aadhimalai has created a model where local communities thrive while natural resources are respected and preserved.

Today, Aadhimalai stands as one of the first tribal-owned producer companies in India—a living example of what’s possible when community, ecology, and economy come together.

In Numbers

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Testimonials

“It’s an overwhelming feeling to say I’m an owner of a business. I’ve been with Aadhimalai since its inception, and while much has changed, the trust and transparency remain constant. Every community member knows what’s happening and cares deeply about the company’s future. The number of women in production units has grown, inspiring others to join. We’re still growing, and I hope we can welcome even more women soon. This year, our shareholders increased by 200, and I expect another 200 next year. It’s a sign that more people believe in what we’re building together.”

“We make beeswax, lip balms, pickles, candies, and soaps. Only women work in our production centre. Before Aadhimalai, we used to sell our produce without even knowing the exact value of it. But after Aadhimalai’s intervention we are now fixing the price for our own produce.”

“Back then we used to collect honey only for our own consumption. If I collected honey, I would give it to the other people in the village as well. We used to bring back gooseberry, soap nut, pepper, etc. and distribute it amongst ourselves. We didn’t collect enough to sell. If there was a litre left after we all used it, we would try to sell it.”