In Mhasale village, Maharashtra, a Custom Hiring Centre (CHC) was established in with support from Climate Investor One's Ampyr Dhule Solar Project. The CHC is run by 12 women from local Self-Help Groups (SHGs), who rent out agricultural equipment such as a thresher machine, chaff cutter, and peanut splitting machine to farmers in the area. This initiative improves community access to farm tools while creating a new livelihood opportunity for the women involved.
In addition to the equipment funded, training sessions were conducted, focusing on CHC planning and operations, covering key topics such as the business objectives, rental systems, asset maintenance, cost-benefit analysis, and record keeping. The training helped the local women understand how to manage the business and interact effectively with local farmers.
The centre aims to reduce the workload and costs associated with processing of produce for farmers, while providing an income source for the women CHC members. With continued support, the CHC is expected to become a self-sustaining community enterprise.
