ANSAB organizes study visit on sustainable Nettle production, management and enterprise development in Nepal for Bhutanese delegates

With request from the Agency for Promotion of Indigenous Crafts (APIC) under the Ministry of Economics, Royal Government of Bhutan, ANSAB facilitated a study visit to their officials in five Nettle enterprises in Kathmandu from December 19 to 27, 2015. During the visit, 5 APIC officials interacted with community members, Nettle entrepreneurs and traders, and gained practical insights in the whole value chain of the sustainable Nettle production, processing and marketing generating livelihood and local employment opportunities. The team was oriented and demonstrated on the ground particularly on the method of nettle cultivation, sustainable harvesting procedures, nettle fiber processing, production of nettle handicrafts and their linkages to local, national and international market. Dr. Nabin Raj Joshi, Research Officer, ANSAB, coordinated the field visit. The visit served as a useful insight and field based learning to participants for further cultivation, production, management and development of Nettle fiber based enterprises in rural and urban areas, particularly promoting, commercializing and generating local employments and livelihoods of the rural communities of Bhutan.