Fig. 1 shows that while adopting traditional agricultural practices involves lesser risk, adoption of technologies leads to increased livelihood security. In the debate of less risk with traditional practices leading to insecure livelihoods versus high risk with improved technology yielding livelihood security, due to low risk taking capacities, low literacy rate and a less informed community, the major livelihood of Bundelkhand depends on traditional knowledge and only the gradual adoption of technological advancements. It means that there is a low rural livelihood security in Bundelkhand. Hence, there is an urgent need to incorporate technological advancements in agricultural practices at grassroots level with acceptance by the poor users. To trigger the process, an oil expeller unit at the door step of rural community could play a critical role for the primary stakeholder.

The US, China and Brazil are the top three producers of oilseed in the world. India is the fourth largest oil economy in the world. The oilseeds output is concentrated in central and southern parts of India, mainly in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The nine major oilseeds cultivated in India are groundnut, mustard, sesame, safflower, linseed, niger seed, castor seed, soya bean and sunflower. About 80 of the country’s oilseeds production depends on the groundnut, mustard and soya bean. India’s share in world oil seed production is as high as 27 per cent for groundnut, 23 per cent for sesame and 16 per cent for rapeseed. In Bundelkhand, mustard and sesame are the major oil seeds.

There has been a large growth in processing capacity of oilseeds partially due to de-licensing of the oil industry in 1990-91. The oil processing sector in India is characterised by large unutilised potentials. In view of available market for oil and local availability of oil seed, the oil extraction unit is playing a critical role in livelihood enhancement for rural women.

Women groups are acquiring enhanced stakes in micro enterprises management and economic value addition, thus also improving their relative position as well as the economical and social status in the society in general.

Several models of the oil expeller are available in the market. Some common models are Mini Master, Oil Bath, Young and Filter etc… All the accessible models were critically examined before procuring them. The technical equipment for adding value to an agricultural product should be user friendly even to illiterate women. In view of this, a 16 patty mini master model was commissioned for a local women run enterprise. This 16 Patty Mini Master model is used to extract oil from groundnuts, sunflower, sesame seeds and other similar oilseeds. This equipment is able to extract one litre of mustard oil after processing three kilograms of mustard seeds.

In order to get high quality edible oils, various processing techniques are used. The technique used for this oil extractor is known as cold press oil extraction process. In this process oil bearing material is pressed without being heated. A typical oil extraction process is as follows:

SHG groups: in the surrounding area 100 Self Help Groups, involving around 1000 women are involved under the umbrella of a Mahila Mandal for their empowerment and development. These groups collectively decided to purchase their own domestic oil requirements from the group involved in oil-extraction process.

Mid-day meal: A small group of women in this area is involved in providing food under mid-day meal scheme, which is government run scheme, where school children are provided one meal during their school hours. The group of women involved with providing mid-day meals procures their oil requirements from the group of women who extract oil.

Service centre: Local people produce a large quantity of oil-seeds and sell it at relatively lower prices in the market through middle men. At the same time, they purchase oil required for their domestic use from the market at a higher rate. The oil-seed producer is proposed to even the scales of edible oils for rural people by providing this service closer to their homes and reducing the loss due to market fluctuations and middle men.

Local market: Local shops and users purchase the oil directly from this group of women.

Gradually but steadily, the oil extraction enterprise is augmenting the livelihood opportunities of these rural women and leading to socio-economic development at both, an individual and at regional levels. This oil extraction unit at a local level is but a minute initiative by a few women. However, there is an urgent need for many more such initiatives linked to agriculture and user-friendly technological advancement for betterment of the underprivileged.  q

• Ghatak S, 2007. A Case for Indian Agriculture. http://topics.develop mentgateway.org/poverty/rc/ItemDetail.do ~1117760?itemId=1117760 (Accessed on October 28, 2007)

• Hiremath B. N., K. V. Raju and Anil Patel (2004). "Farmers' Technology Adoption, Farm Management and Livelihood System Gujarat". www.indian commodity.com/statistic/oilstatisti