Melseemai
Melseemai Pazhangudiyinar Producer Company (MPPC) is a forest-produce-based community enterprise operated by Adivasi farmers and foragers in the Sathyamangalam region of Tamil Nadu. The company was officially incorporated in August 2023 and presently includes 360 members across 13 villages. MPPC focuses on the procurement, value addition, and marketing of non-timber forest produce (NTFP) such as wild honey, broom grass, millets, and wild amla.
The enterprise emerged from over two decades of grassroots organizing by forest-dependent communities and is supported by the Enterprise Hub. It aims to strengthen livelihood security through community ownership of supply chains and improved processing, branding, and retail strategies.
Background
The roots of MPPC can be traced back to the establishment of a resource centre in Hasanur by Keystone Foundation in 2005–2006. Located within the Sathyamangalam Forest Division — an area with the highest volume of NTFP collection in Tamil Nadu — the centre, named Thumbithakadu (“prosperous forest”), has long served as a base for ecological training and enterprise development. The Thumbithakadu initiative was a collaboration between Keystone Foundation, the Minor Forest Collector’s Association, and the local NGO TAMS (Thalavadi Adivasi Munnetra Sangam).
In 2003, the Thumbithakadu Sangam was formed by Adivasi communities in the Dhimbam region to collectively procure and market forest produce. The group operated independently for seven years before integrating into Aadhimalai Producer Company, from which they received technical and operational support. In August 2023, with support from the Enterprise Hub, they formally registered as a separate entity — the Melseemai Pazhangudiyinar Producer Company.
Organisational Structure and Governance
MPPC began with 100 members and has expanded to include 360 shareholders from 13 villages in the Dhimbam region. The company is governed by a six-member Board of Directors who are elected by the General Body. This body convenes annually to make decisions on issues such as procurement rates, product pricing, quality control standards, and strategic business directions.
The daily operations of MPPC are managed by a core team of ten staff members. This includes Director Mr. Nagaraj, long-standing team members like Chittira (since 2002) and Sivagami (since 2014), and newer staff such as Gouri. Selvi, who joined in 2012, manages accounts at the main centre in Hasanur and is supported by Renuka, who joined earlier this year. The rest of the team handles tasks related to processing, packaging, logistics, and retail. MPPC operates three retail outlets located in Bannari, Dhimbam, and Sathyamangalam. Salaries for both production and sales staff have been supported by the Enterprise Hub in the company’s initial year.
Products and Procurement Model
MPPC currently procures and processes a range of locally available produce, including wild honey, wild amla, broom grass, and indigenous millet varieties. These are sourced from member households and collectors across the 13 villages. Procurement is guided by a seasonal schedule, and the materials are delivered to the central production unit in Hasanur.
Procurement methods include moisture testing for honey, sorting and drying of broom grass and amla, and careful storage of millets to preserve quality. Procurement prices are aligned with local market rates. MPPC also regularly consults with its gatherers and field teams to address logistics challenges and ensure consistency in product quality across collection sites.
Product processing begins with cleaning, grading, and where required, basic value addition (such as drying, bottling, or powdering). Final goods are packaged and labelled in-house. Honey and other value-added items are then transported to one of the three retail shops, where they are sold directly to customers. Local events and exhibitions also provide periodic opportunities to display and sell products outside the immediate area.
Various flavours of honey are branded and showcased at the production centre as well as three retail outlets
Production, Processing, and Retail
The production centre in Hasanur serves as the central hub for all MPPC operations. Collected produce is cleaned, processed, stored, and packaged here using basic equipment acquired with project support. This includes honey filtration and bottling units, millet grinders, and appropriate containers for dry storage. Processing is done in small batches to ensure quality and to match the limited infrastructure capacity.
Retail sales are handled through three physical outlets located in Bannari, Dhimbam, and Sathyamangalam. These shops serve local customers and also showcase the products and branding of the enterprise. The Bannari outlet, informally known as the “Then Kudil” (Honey Hut), is one of the most active sites and is managed by staff such as Ms. Manimegalai. Each shop is staffed by members of the community, and sales volumes vary depending on seasonal availability and local demand.
Retail
Ms. Manimegalai, the staff at the Bannari retail outlet with customers
The Honey Hut or Then Kudil in Bannari, one of three retail outlets
Capacity Building and Technical Support
MPPC has participated in a series of training sessions and mentorship activities facilitated by the Enterprise Hub and Aadhimalai Producer Company. These capacity-building efforts have focused on multiple aspects of enterprise management. In honey collection, for example, training sessions addressed moisture control, filtration, and safe transport to the Hasanur centre. Standardised procurement protocols were introduced to ensure consistency in raw material quality across different villages and seasons.
The team has also received support in financial management, including bookkeeping, basic accounting tools, and procurement tracking systems. Packaging and product readiness for retail were discussed during joint sessions with Aadhimalai, and the company is currently experimenting with improved packaging designs that are both durable and suited to local markets. Governance orientation has been provided to the Board of Directors, with emphasis on internal decision-making and compliance with producer company regulations.
These support structures aim to gradually strengthen MPPC’s internal operations and enhance the enterprise’s ability to respond to market opportunities while retaining its community-owned structure.
Current Challenges
MPPC continues to navigate several operational and structural challenges as it establishes itself as a standalone enterprise. Logistics remains a persistent difficulty, particularly the transport of honey and other forest produce from remote villages to the central unit in Hasanur. During peak harvest seasons, timely and safe movement of collected material requires better coordination and transport infrastructure.
Quality control across dispersed collection points has improved through training but still varies between batches. Consistency in moisture levels for honey, cleanliness of raw materials, and uniformity in storage practices are areas that the team continues to refine. This directly impacts the shelf-readiness and market acceptance of the products.
While retail shops have been effective in creating a local sales base, marketing remains a key constraint. MPPC has not yet developed a brand identity that distinguishes its products in wider markets, and there is currently no digital sales infrastructure. Training in branding, promotion, and customer communication is ongoing, but sustained attention is required to ensure uptake.
Administrative and business management systems such as procurement planning, inventory tracking, and sales documentation are still in early stages. While the team is steadily gaining experience, these processes need further structure and support in order to function independently at scale.
Future Directions and Livelihood Impact
In the coming year, MPPC plans to focus on stabilising its procurement and sales cycles, refining its core product lines, and building visibility through exhibitions and regional networks. Members of the team are preparing to participate in upcoming events such as the Kerala Agricultural Exposition, where products like wild honey, millets, and traditional pickles will be showcased. Internally, the enterprise is working to document seasonal availability, test new packaging formats, and improve production efficiency at the Hasanur unit.
These developments are expected to strengthen MPPC’s position within the local market and eventually open pathways for broader sales and collaboration with peer enterprises. A gradual rollout of brand identity and point-of-sale communication materials is also underway, with support from the Enterprise Hub.
At the village level, MPPC continues to function as a supplementary livelihood channel. For collectors and cultivators, the enterprise offers a structured and transparent procurement arrangement that provides an alternative to opportunistic or exploitative trade practices. While still modest in scale, MPPC’s operations have created new employment opportunities for women and youth, both in production and retail. Several long-term members have taken on new roles in accounts, retail management, and governance.
The producer company model allows for collective ownership and local control over forest-based enterprise, contributing to increased confidence among community members in managing economic activity. As systems mature and production stabilises, MPPC is positioned to serve as a long-term platform for livelihood generation among forest-dependent communities in the Dhimbam region.