A group of farmers from Lauri Gewog in Samdrup Jongkhar has become part of the French luxury fashion house, Chanel. The farmers supply a non-wood forest product used in a cosmetic product manufactured by Chanel. Known as Swertia chirayita, the plant is used as an active ingredient for a skin-restoring face oil.
The group comprising close to 60 farmers supply a minimum of 2,000 kilograms of the plant annually to Chanel. A kilogram of the plant fetches Nu 750. The Agriculture Ministry through the National Biodiversity Centre and Chanel started work on the collaboration sometime in 2013. The farmers now grow the plant in their backyard. In the past, it was collected from the wild without management plans and sold to India fetching only up to Nu 200 per kilogram.
In a news release, the National Biodiversity Centre said the venture has immensely benefited the group in enhancing the livelihoods of the group members, especially in supporting their children’s education.
Phub Gyem
