Grinding barriers to dust: How Sunanda Mukherjee built a spice enterprise
In 2022, with Rs. 20,000 as her initial capital, Sunanda Mukherjee took the first step into spice production and processing
When Sunanda Mukherjee looks back at her journey from Ichariya village in Bankura, West Bengal, she sees not only the transformation of her livelihood but the strengthening of her confidence and voice. Raised as the daughter of a primary school teacher, Sunanda grew up surrounded by books and a deep love for Bengali literature.
Although academically strong, she struggled to secure a job, a phase that left her questioning her next steps. Marriage brought her into a rural environment where she witnessed first-hand the challenges women faced in accessing opportunities. It was in this landscape that she began searching for practical ways to contribute to her household and her community.
In 2022, with Rs. 20,000 as her initial capital, Sunanda took the first step into spice production and processing. At the time, the idea of running a business felt distant, if not impossible. But everything changed when she joined the Udyamini project on 7 June 2022. Through the programme’s support, she received training in processing, packaging, quality maintenance, and business planning. She was encouraged to participate in local fairs and market events, gaining exposure she had never imagined for herself. These experiences strengthened her communication skills and helped her present her products with confidence.
The most defining shift in her business was her commitment to producing chemical-free, pure spices. Influenced by the pro-environment values of her peer group, the Krishnasayar Radharani Utpadok Goshthhi, Sunanda began advocating for natural, home-processed spices. Earlier, she would have bought ready-made spices from shops, but today she actively spreads awareness about purity, both among customers and fellow women entrepreneurs.
Her leadership has grown steadily. Sunanda now manages a processing unit with 20 women, offering grinding services for spices, flour, and rice to the entire community. Their collective work generates a monthly turnover of around Rs. 25,000. In addition, she keeps her spice packets at the Udyamini Store, earning approximately Rs. 1,000 each month.
The store functions as a shared platform for rural women, and Sunanda regularly guides others on how to market and reach customers. Her confidence, shaped through training and real-world practice, has made her a trusted group leader. She has also played an active role in securing government support to strengthen her collective enterprise. Looking ahead, she hopes to expand the store within her community and introduce new products like chilli flakes to increase their shared income.
“I never imagined I could run a business or guide other women. With training and support, I found my voice. Today I lead a team, manage a store, and dream of expanding our products. When women grow together, the whole community moves forward,” Sunanda says.
Her journey echoes the sentiment of the Value Chain Project Manager, who reflects, “I take pride in guiding women to bring their products out of the village and into the market. When I step forward, they follow with courage, and together we are building a stronger community business.”
Sunanda is among many rural women entrepreneurs who will join the Rural Udyamita Conference 2025, scheduled for 12 December at NEDFi, Guwahati. The event will gather key stakeholders from across India to discuss how to strengthen and sustain the ecosystem for rural women entrepreneurs. Organised and hosted by the Council for Social and Digital Development, Digital Empowerment Foundation, North East Development Foundation, and Unifiers Social Ventures, the conference aims to highlight the role of grassroots innovators like Sunanda. It is co-organised by the Udyamini RWEP Collaborative, with institutional support from the United Nations Development Programme and the Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission.
As one of many women transforming their communities, Sunanda’s presence at the conference represents not only her personal progress but the shared momentum of rural entrepreneurship across Assam and West Bengal.
