Market Linkages of Forest Based Enterprises in Koshi Hill Districts

In between 2012 and 2014 Multi Stakeholder Forestry Program (MSFP)supported more than 40 forest based enterprises in Koshi Hill Districts, namely Dhankuta, Tehrathum, Bhojpur and Sankhuwasabha. Of these, 10 enterprises (7 Lokta Handmade paper producers, 2 bamboo handicraft producers, and 1 Dhup producer) were further supported and facilitated for market linkage visits in different parts of the country. The visit was conducted in three different groups between April and May, 2014 (two for Lokta entrepreneurs and one for Bamboo entrepreneurs). The key individuals of the enterprises visited, observed and discussed with buyers, traders and exporters of the particular product. The innovative approach adopted behind this market linkages was to provide a platform where all the value chain actors of the particular products could introduce each other, share their problems, issues, concerns, demands, expectations, and aspirations. The approach adopted was found to be fruitful in terms of developing direct linkages, trusts, beliefs and relations among value chain actors, especially among the producers, traders, buyers, processors, and retailers.