Business Models in Cashewnut Value Chain, India

Client: German Development Bank (GIZ) 

July 2018 

Under UPNRM (Umbrella Programme for Natural Resource Management), German Development Bank provides a grant to NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development), which in turn disburses loans to channel partners. These channel partners further provide loans to farmers or cooperatives, thus assisting cashew processors by providing working capital for input resource procurement. The project objective was to identify geographies where these models could be successfully replicated and explore opportunities to streamline these units into commercial banking. 

The team members of  WhitePeak were engaged by GIZ to analyse cashew nut value chain business models in Maharashtra and Gujarat. The project focused on two channel partners — Lupin Foundation in Sindhudurg, and VAPCOL in Vansda. These two business models were analysed through on-field primary research and expert interviews. Subsequently the main document was created though secondary research inputs and analysing significant amount of academic literature, government statistical data, and alternate research sources. The report covered the following areas: 

• Project Design of the model 
• Implementation Strategy used by the model 
• Value Chain Mapping and Stakeholder Analysis engaged by the model 
• Cost Economics of the model such as P&L and cash-flow analysis