This unit at Anini supported by NECTAR is at present fully operational with the processing of kiwi and other medicinal plants. The unit has produced Kiwi jam, Squash, Dried kiwi from the available Kiwi during the season along with many other products from the medicinal herbs available there. Examples include Dehydrated Water Dropwort Leaf Powder and Oenanthe Javanica which helps in curing Jaundice, High blood pressure, abdominal pain and hepatitis. Others include Thambai leaf powder which have antimicrobial and antifungal properties and is known to increase appetite, Dehydrated Oxaliscorniculata (Creeping woodsorrel) Powder which can be used as dietary foods, dehydrated Centella Asiatica (Gotu kola) Powder which can heal wounds, cure skin diseases, stomach problems and many more. About 9-10 people including women of the locality are directly employed in the unit at present.

This project at Kyamgei Mayai Leikai, Imphal East District of Manipur established for production of mustard oil and mustard cakes is operational with a production of 250 litres of Extracted Mustard Oil per day. Around 300 farmers were trained on post harvesting techniques and marketing tie up. 

This project by Sunika Enterprise with the implementation site at Niuland, Nagaland deals with the production of green tea and varieties of flavoured tea with a blend of herbs and spices providing employment to atleast 10 people to be directly employed in the unit at present. These varieties include pure green tea, spicy rose tea, detox herbal tea, green tea paan, green tea blueberry, green tea apple, rosemary herbal tea, green tea Raspberry, blue pea mint etc. These tea compositions comprising tea compositions comprising herbs and spices provide improved immunity to a consumer whilst the tea composition has the taste and other organoleptic properties desired by regular tea drinkers.

This project in Aizawl, Mizoram is supported by NECTAR aims to produce eco-friendly paper cups and distribution all over the state to reduce the use of plastic packaging along with the creation of livelihood opportunities for a large sum of people in and around Aizawl through reliable commercialization along with generation of employment for 7 direct and 10 indirect beneficiaries.

Over the years through tests and experiments, AAU, Jorhat was able to bring uniformity in the starter culture, control alcohol content, improve shelf life and to do away with the continuation of fermentation process of the local ethnic liquor of the Ahoms, “XAJ”. An organization from Jorhat, NEAPS got in touch with AAU and decided to set up a commercial production plant of the XAJ with financial assistance from NECTAR. The project was able to start its commercial production from September 2022 and has since then earned praises from all around the Globe. It has able to find its place in newspapers and journals of national and international repute. The project has been able to provide direct employment to more than 30 people at its production unit. Also, more than 80 people from the nearby villages are indirectly benefitted for supplying of raw materials to the production unit.

NECTAR has supported Mushroom Development Foundation for helping 100 SHG women members to produce mushroom and develop a value chain. The entire project has been set on a structural and stratified module based on the proper functioning of different units and their own defined roles to be played. The module comprises of 100 local women, further segregated into ➢ 4 Mushroom Demonstration Unit (MDU) ➢ 16 Common Processing Unit (CPU) ➢ 80 Individual Production Unit (IPU). The project has been able to provide directly benefit 100 local women at the project implementation site. The project also indirectly benefitted more than 400 individuals.

A firm from Faridabad was allotted a grant-in-aid under BAANS scheme of NECTAR for establishing a Production unit of bamboo disposable cutleries and bamboo bottles. The firm has been able to design and develop Special Purpose Machines (SPMs) like lathe machines, bamboo splitters and slicers for developing the products. Innovative and tested commercial designs of high value bamboo medicinal bottles and disposable cutleries like- Spoon, fork, knife, ice-cream sticks, candy sticks, etc. are manufactured through this unit.

A firm, Aavya Life Science Pvt. Ltd. was supported for developing a microbe-immune Bio-Sampler for collection of samples of Corona-Virus and its smooth hygienic transport. A small manufacturing unit for production of Bio-Sampler with automated MTM (Molecular Transport Media) filling machine and Negative Pressure Control has been set up in the Bio-Nest Building of IASST Guwahati, Assam. The MTM (Molecular Transport Media) developed by Aavya Life Science has been tested from Maulana Azad Medical College and National Institute of Biologicals with 100% sensitivity and specificity. The developed media is colourless and highly efficient for the collection of covid 19 samples as well as neutralizing the sample for further infection which can be used for further R & D work diagnostic testing e.g., HPV & MTB.

NECTAR in collaboration with Mizoram Science Centre has successfully established an Organic Waste Composting Facility at Aizawl District, Mizoram with the objective of converting the organic waste collected from various institutions and market places in the surrounding villages of the district for conversion into value added manure product for use in farming and agriculture and promoting environmental conservation. Compost booster technology from CSIR-IHBT Palampur is used as an integral part of the process. During the first trial run, about 4 tonnes of final compost was produced in the facility which was marketed successfully under the brand name “Mawitei Manure” by the Mizoram Science Centre.

A young entrepreneur from Nalbari started an unit of production of eco-friendly cutlery from dried Arecanut Sheaths at her home which has been supported by NECTAR and she has provided employment to 2 people directly in her unit.

The villagers of the Leisenzo village in Mizoram have been traditionally collecting tea leaves from its century-old jungles and drying them to make tea. However, without modern machinery and equipment, the villagers could not make much profit. Also, huge amount of tea leaves go wasted because of the lack of driers among the villagers.  Trying to provide a solution to the people of Leisenzo, NECTAR has supported M/s Eco Far to set up a tea processing unit at Leisenzo village of Champhai district of Mizoram. The tea processing unit will be equipped with all modern machineries like solar dryer, electric dryer, tea roller machine, tea branch slicers, and weighing scales. The project has also been able to get a space of approx. 1500 sq. ft at Zoram Mega Food Park funded from the Ministry of Food Processing, Government of India, for operations like storing, packaging, and labelling.

The demand for bioplastics has been increasing since the past decade due to growing environmental concerns, awareness, stringent regulations by various government and agencies. Most of these companies produce1000-5000 tons of bioplastics every year while the country’s annual consumption is 9 million tonnes (CPCB). This deficit is causing a serious disruption in the demand vs supply equation. The unit in Mokokchang, Nagaland has started production of these bioplastic bags which have a carrying capacity ranging from 1-5 Kg. The current production capacity of the unit is about 3 tons per month.  Initial employment has been given to 6 people (3 male and 3 female) belonging to ST category   to work at the unit, expected employment of 10-15 numbers on daily basis, mobilized 250 cassava farmers who have started the cassava plantation and are mostly the small holders from 10 villages.

In Kohima and Zunheboto districts of Nagaland, RAFRA, with support from NECTAR, implemented a project benefiting 20 women farmers from the ST community. These beneficiaries were trained in various aspects of shiitake mushroom cultivation and provided with starter kits and a total of 4,000 wood logs to begin cultivation in their own spaces. The harvested mushrooms were sold both fresh and in dried form in local markets, enabling the women to earn higher margins and improve their livelihoods. The initiative was also showcased during the G20 meet held in Nagaland in April 2023.

The Meghalaya Integrated Mountain Development Initiative (MIMDI) established a spice and aromatic distillation unit in Ri Bhoi, Meghalaya, with the aim of creating sustainable livelihoods and promoting resilient income-generating opportunities through the cultivation and processing of spices and medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs). The project focused on introducing technology interventions, reducing dependency on shifting agriculture, and transforming wastelands into productive farmland. It also aimed to popularize high-value crops suited to the local agro-climatic conditions, strengthen market linkages with assured buybacks, and promote employment, especially among women and youth. A total of 48 individuals (19 male and 27 female) from SC and ST communities were directly benefitted, while 140 ST women were indirectly impacted through training and awareness initiatives.