GUWAHATI, June 1: Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve has opened a new channel for locally made, biodiversity-linked products crafted by fringe communities to reach a wider national and global market.
The Eco-Shop initiative, through which the products, rooted in traditional skills, local materials and environmentally responsible practices, have been promoted on platforms such as Amazon and Government e-Marketplace (GeM), reflects Kaziranga’s continuing efforts to connect conservation with livelihoods.
Kaziranga officials said the launch is expected to create stronger market access for artisans and producer groups from fringe villages while showcasing the rich craft heritage of the Kaziranga landscape.
Notably, the Eco Shops, managed entirely by the Kaziranga Staff Welfare Society, within its two years of inception, made a whopping sale of products, which largely also benefitted the local community.
The Eco-Shop features a range of handcrafted, eco-friendly products, including woven articles, textile goods, decorative items, and other livelihood-based creations made by community members.
The community-led products that are popular with the visitors include – handloom, woodcraft, edibles (pickles and honey) and water hyacinth products that are eco-friendly and carry the unique Kaziranga signature.
It may be mentioned that under the Ministry of Textiles – SAMARTH scheme, over 300 women benefitted from the skilling workshop, and the products woven by them see a ready market in the eco shops.
The key highlight of these products has been incorporating traditional animal motifs into textiles and the use of natural dyes derived from locally available wild resources.
“The training has helped build on existing traditional ecological knowledge and handloom skills, enabling artisans to transform biodiversity knowledge into market-ready products. By linking these products to popular online marketing stores such as Amazon and GeM, the initiative aims to provide artisans with improved visibility, consistent demand, and broader customer outreach,” an official statement issued on Monday said.
