Saalai Manikam - The Successful Women Entrepreneur Who is Making Ghana Greener Than Ever Before

Vertical farms, living room greenhouses, robots and apps to control crops: innovative agriculture makes great strides, with brilliant ideas that will, in all likelihood, be the protagonists of the agriculture of the future. It may be one of the oldest crafts in human history, but agriculture knows no brakes on modernization. When we talk about innovative agriculture, in fact, we open a huge chapter made up of brilliant ideas, entrepreneurial ideas that combine a deep knowledge of the subject with a new vision of the sector.

That's why the business of agriculture knows no stops. And it's by no means a job for old people: start-ups are constantly evolving, and young people are increasingly interested in making this vital work more technological. The theme of food could not be without in-depth studies on new techniques and technologies to create profitable and innovative crops, with ideas really cutting edge on every front.

Every day the rural world acquires more and more charm for young people who already dream of a life linked to land and agriculture from high school. And so after decades when young farmers no longer existed, the numbers begin to rise exponentially. According to studies, agricultural entrepreneurs increased 63% from 2018 to 2019. And thanks to them, agriculture changes, meets technology, opens the door to new forms of sustainable tourism and returns to being increasingly organic.

The Superficial ancient techniques which is much better than the today innovations

With the term “Innovation” we generally deal with profitable farms, hydroponic greenhouses, aeroponic crops, profitable greenhouse crops, high-income crops and all those lucrative investments in agriculture that make up the profitable innovative crops, now available to an agricultural entrepreneur.

But, what we recently learned is, we can achieve this without these latest novel advanced technological innovations. Yes, this news has really surprised us and we started to investigate who is behind the scene. For our most flabbergast, we came to know she is an Indian woman who she is making the major part of Ghana greener and more fertile than ever before. Her technique has been adopted from our ancient agriculture proficiency skills of our Indian ancestors which greatly works in that country.

Women overwhelmingly entered the farms, bringing inspiration and efficiency. Businesswomen, who by virtue of the first settlement, were able to take advantage of Community aid. Among the many we have identified Ms. Saalai Manikam who she is a Socio economic entrepreneur, social empowerment worker, strategic development consultant. She dedicates her life to agriculture and who have decided to open an Eco-sustainable accommodation facility in the countryside of Ghana. She has decided to take sustainable measures in agriculture, for getting back a more natural lifestyle.

Learning from Nature, rediscovering simplicity, feeling part of a whole ... are some keywords that unite her story, let's discover her together

Saalai Manikam - we can call her the 'Greener Lady of Ghana'

Born in Meivazhi salai, India and raised under a holistic state of living, she has an inner self that is still making her reach to the very heights of pure intelligence. A lot of winsome opportunities came to herself that she profusely grabbed and leaped to the greater heights. Her fine diplomacy of dealing with people in a sensitive and tactful way make her propinquity to administer government departments and agencies. And she also been involved in very successful projects both in India and abroad. Her wise computing intelligence make her play a vital role in financial structuring and liaison with many financial institutions. She is also an intelligent CSR advisor.

She has now undertaken a very respectable position in ARIMA GROUP, Ghana – as a Managing Director & Promotor of Agriculture and Mining which both are the most respectable domains that determines a fortuity of a Nation.

The story behind her goal

She made this choice because of the strong bond she has always had with this place. This strong vocation has allowed her to face the difficulties and overcome the lack of experience in the agricultural field and the initial prejudice that the so-called "humble" jobs arouse.

Overcoming the initial difficulties, however insurmountable they might seem, made her stronger. The first satisfactions then made her aware of being part of something greater than what she could think at the beginning: being an active part of the traditions makes her satisfied with what she do, and increasingly interested in learning more and improving herself.

“She is a woman stepped to achieve as the opportunities called her. She chose to be a diplomat, in a respectable concern and sometimes act like a farm field worker. She does an innovative way of agriculture which is putting in place new knowledge and particular attention to the environment.” 

She has created through many details, starting with respect for the place in the restructuring of traditional materials and forms. The fields, furnished in a simple but particular way, do not hide their previous agricultural function, she hosted equipment found in the farms and local artisan creations that support social projects.

Armed herself with a lot of patience, kindness and availability and be able to learn from anyone and from any experience. Of course, it is a very tiring job but if done with passion and determination it will give anyone incredible satisfaction that will repay all the energy spent.

Her vision towards the future

Fundamental for us is not only to give a room or to eat, but to make our guests live an experience. With the help of her local friends, she managed to make it happen in Accra, which she simply defines 'an area where you can dream ... cultivate ideas ... make projects grow'.

Accra is the place to do, 1000's of hectares of agri lands, in the province, is ready to clad herself as a ‘greener mom’. The old farms have been renovated in an ecological way, experimenting with innovative technologies with phytodepuration system, clean energy and bio-lake, and creating a beautiful eco-friendly rural hospitality. Their organic agricultural products from citrus fruits to avocados, from rice to natural greens, are in high demand in the local markets.

The rural world offer more than city life 

It is something subtle because here too the rhythms are often frenetic and even much more rigid than in the city. Nature does not wait, plants have their cycles, seasons alternate and if you are not prepared, you have not foreseen and planned well the times you lose the harvest, that is, the work of an entire year.

"What pays off is simplicity, learning again to surprise yourself with the colors of the sunrise, the scent of freshly picked fruit, the gestures of animals ... In short, the simple beauty and the perception of feeling part of a whole. "

Her advice to anyone who is at the beginning of a similar project to prepare for it which there is no school or preparation. Hospitality on a farm is something unique and special, every day is different. Her philosophy is to give what she would like to find on a farm, therefore warmth and pleasure in welcoming and sincerity and familiarity in telling her story and that of the place.

 Her current positions:-

• ARIMA GROUP, Ghana – Agriculture & Mining, Promotor & Managing Director

• ICCOA - International Competence Centre for Organic Agriculture, Board
Member

• PAF - Periyar African Foundation, Founder & General Secretary

• Dec 3 Movement – Differently Abled Rights Movement, Patron & Chief Advisor

• ACOSA – African Council for Organic & Sustainable Agriculture, Conceptor &
Founder

• FWC – First World Community, President, West Africa

• WACWISA – West Africa Centre for water, Irrigation & Sustainable Agriculture,
Sectoral Advisory Board Member (World Bank, The Association of African
Universities (AAU), Ecowas – CEDEAO, AFD – French NGO)

• Green Heart Africa, Company into agricultural development in the Bounkani
Region, Northeast part in Cote d`Ivoire to increase rice production through
mobilization of the community farmers and youth groups, Advisor

• Uzhavan Organics – Farmers Group (Pudukottai District in Tamilnadu), Advisory
Board Member

• Half Land Enterprise Pvt Ltd, Working with Marginal Farmers in Mysore, Socio
Economic Development Advisor.

• A-RAISE Foundation - African Robotic, Artificial Intelligence, and Space
Education Foundation, Founder Director

• TKHub – The Knowledge Hub, Conceptor & Founder

We, the Karuvi Foundation feels really proud to felicitate our Prestigious Icon Ms. Saalai Manikam and we wishes her heartfully to reach the very heights to the epitome of success.