Oracle-Swades Initiative Empowers 900+ Rural Women in Maharashtra

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Wednesday, 17 June 2026

Oracle has finished its first year of rural livelihoods program, which has helped over 900 women farmers and entrepreneurs in Nashik and Raigad districts of Maharashtra. Under the guidance of a grant of ₹5.5 crore, the initiative aimed to strengthen the livelihoods through climate-smart farming, dairy, entrepreneurship and financial education.

The program is part of a long-term partnership between Oracle and Swades Foundation for the empowerment of rural women through sustainable employment generation and strengthening the rural economy.

One of the major steps taken to implement the project was to encourage the growing of Safed Musali in 525 women farmers. The medicinal crop is found to be climate-resilient and can help in earning an annual income of ₹25,000 to ₹40,000. Further, 373 women were also supported in dairy farming by providing them high yielding cattle which enabled them to generate regular income and annual earning of up to ₹40,000/-.

The program also encouraged women entrepreneurship by providing 62 women with seed capital and equipment to enhance their small businesses, which includes food processing, retail and agriculture based businesses. The program expects that each of the enterprises will be able to earn an additional ₹40,000 to ₹50,000 per annum.

Key Highlights:

• 900+ rural women supported through Oracle and Swades Foundation’s ₹5.5 crore livelihoods program in Maharashtra
• Boosted incomes via climate-smart farming, dairy farming, and women-led enterprises
• Provided training and market access to promote sustainable livelihoods and financial independence

In addition to the livelihood generation, the participants were also trained in sustainable farming, dairy management and financial literacy. Farmers were also linked with local markets to enhance price realization and boost long-term sustainability of farm businesses.

Madhura from Igatpuri got market exposure, training and financial assistance under the program and launched her food business Madhura Kitchen Crafts. The business now has three women from her village and is looking at being expanded to wholesale markets in Nashik.

Mangesh Wange, CEO, Swades Foundation, said, “At Swades Foundation, we believe in change that is driven by communities and built to last. By combining high-value agriculture, dairy, and entrepreneurship with financial literacy, we’re seeing not just better incomes, but greater confidence and agency. It’s powerful to see these women step forward as drivers of growth in their communities.”

Neha Khare, Oracle spokesperson, said, “Our partnership with Swades Foundation reflects our commitment to creating tangible, scalable outcomes in rural communities. By enabling diversified livelihoods, entrepreneurship, and climate-resilient agriculture, we are supporting rural women to move beyond being income earners to becoming entrepreneurs, wealth creators, and, increasingly, employers themselves. As these women build sustainable incomes and financial independence, they are also creating opportunities for others in their communities - demonstrating a model of change that is both scalable and built for long-term impact.”

The program emphasizes the increasing importance of the partnership between the corporate and development sectors to enhance economic resilience and sustainable livelihoods in rural communities.