Essential Oils from the Alpine Areas of the Himalayas

by Appropriate Technology International

Partners:

Appropriate Technology International (ATI) Asian Network for Small-scale Agricultural Bioresources (ANSAB) The Humla Conservation and Development Association (HCDA)

Current Accomplishments

This year two distillation units (Rodikot and Kurilla) were up and running in Humla, distilling oils from three NTFPs - Jatamansi, Juniper, and Sagunawaal. Technical issues have been largely solved, enterprise workers are comfortable with distillation operations, and community members are realizing the benefits of value added processing and the importance of sustainable harvesting of NTFPs.

Sales of oil have also picked up after initial problems in locating quality buyers. As of August, Humla Oil Pvt. Ltd. had sold its entire stock of oil from the preceding year, 235 kg of jatamansi oil generating $22,300 in sales Humla Oil Pvt. Ltd. also negotiated its first distributor agreement with Phoenix Aromas & Essential Oils of New York. Phoenix is a distributor of essential oils in the United States with over 25 years experience in the industry. A relationship with Phoenix was initiated in May and has resulted in the signing of a two-year exclusive distribution agreement giving Phoenix the right to represent Humla Oil's products in the United States. The tie up with Phoenix is expected to place Humla Oil's products in higher value markets. Phoenix is shouldering the costs of product promotion including industry mailings and advertising.

Finally, implementation of the biodiversity monitoring system is underway. The project will collect the biological baseline information from September to November, 1996. Baseline information for socioeconomic monitoring has been collected using a sample household survey.

Successes and Challenges

"OK...So What?"

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