Milk, Grit, and Growth: The story of Ratnambikai
Sudhakaran Ratnampikai, a determined 41-year-old woman from the remote village of Sempiyampattu in Jaffna, has quietly emerged as a symbol of entrepreneurial spirit. Coming from a woman-headed household, Ratnampikai ventured into self-employment not out of choice, but out of necessity. With limited resources but unwavering determination, she transformed a livelihood challenge into an opportunity. [1485]
Her entrepreneurial journey began in 2016 when the Divisional Secretariat offered dairy production training to a small group of women through a livelihood development initiative. Though the project started with more than five women, over time, only two remained. Ratnampikai was one of them. With the support of the government, she received access to equipment, a workspace, and machinery to launch her dairy business. Her motivation was clear: “To create employment opportunities for economically vulnerable women and improve their social and financial standing.”
Though her venture has helped improve her standard of living, Ratnampikai still faces hurdles. Due to the rising cost of living, she also works part-time at a private school to make ends meet. High production costs, transportation barriers, and limited access to raw materials all impact her profit margins. “Our products are good,” she explains, “but we struggle with branding and packaging. That’s our first challenge.”
Her main product, Balroby (a traditional dairy sweet), along with ghee, paneer, and other milk-based items, is sold through the Sanjeevi sales platform. Among her offerings, Balroby performs best, generating a steady income of Rs. 600 per month through Sanjeevi alone. Her products are especially popular during the tourist season and are available in more than 13 outlets. However, competition is rising, and her greatest challenge now is sourcing milk. “There’s a shortage of local cows,” she says, “and the traditional cattle-rearing model has declined. To produce just one gram of ghee, I need 30 liters of milk.”[1449, 1461, 1455, 1460, 1472, ]
Despite the scarcity of raw materials and the increasing competition in Jaffna’s dairy market, Ratnampikai continues to push forward. With support from agencies like the Divisional Secretariat, the Ministry of Industries, and Viluthu, she’s seeking new strategies and expert partnerships to reduce costs and sustain her business.
“The path hasn’t been easy, I’ve overcome many hardships to get to where I am today,” she reflects with quiet pride. “Watching my child study with such dedication gives me hope, and I truly believe that even greater progress lies ahead.” [1481]
