Two years ago, Mohammed Mumtaz Begum of Andhra Pradesh’s Tallamudi village bought a packet of vermicelli in Vijayawada and wondered why she could not make and sell the product in her hometown. That simple thought led her to start a home-based business with a ₹2 lakh bank loan. Today, her vermicelli reaches customers in Hyderabad and people living in Dubai, the United States and Malaysia. The business also provides work to at least seven people. As reported by The New Indian Express, Mumtaz lives in Tallamudi village in Pedapadu mandal, Eluru district. She started the unit after deciding to make vermicelli locally instead of relying on products bought elsewhere. With guidance from the manager of Chaitanya Godavari Bank in Eluru, she secured a bank loan of ₹2 lakh and bought a vermicelli-making machine.
From making vermicelli at home to handling orders
Mumtaz began production at home and gradually learnt to manage each stage of the process, from preparing the vermicelli and drying it to packing and dispatching orders. As reported by Disha Daily, the unit uses wheat flour and purified water, and the machine can produce around 15 kg of vermicelli at a time. The product is then dried in the sun before being packed for sale. Demand rises during Ramzan, when vermicelli is widely used in festive cooking. Mumtaz says that sales are stronger during this period, while business remains moderate during the rest of the year. One of her biggest orders came during Ramzan, when Denduluru MLA Chintamaneni Prabhakar placed an order worth ₹1 lakh. Mumtaz supplied nearly 1,500 packets for distribution during the festival.The order gave her confidence to look beyond her immediate market. She began supplying customers in Hyderabad and sending consignments to people living overseas, including in Dubai, the US and Malaysia, according to The New Indian Express.
Business creates jobs in the village
Photo credit: The New Indian Express
Mumtaz’s unit has also become a source of local employment. At least seven people work with the business, and she brings in additional workers when orders increase during the busy season. As reported by Disha Daily, she pays workers around ₹500 a day. Her husband and second son help with the business. Her elder son works in Dubai, where he specialises in air-conditioner repairs. Mumtaz also rents out her vermicelli-making machine when her own production is low. This allows other people who want to make vermicelli to use the equipment without having to invest a large amount in buying a machine themselves.
Plans to expand, but wants better market access
As demand grows, Mumtaz plans to shift the unit from Tallamudi to Hanuman Junction. She hopes the move will improve access to transport and markets, making it easier to handle more orders and reach customers. She is also seeking government support to promote her products. She wants entrepreneurs, particularly Self-Help Groups, to receive opportunities to display and sell their products at government-organised exhibitions, fairs and other marketing platforms.
