May 23rd, Srinagar: With the G20 Tourism Working Group (TWG) conference taking place in Srinagar, the Bandipora district of North Kashmir is making the most of the chance to showcase its renowned goods to the visiting international delegates.
Gurez Valley black cumin (kala jeera), Tulail Valley organic rajma (kidney beans), and the Sumbal area’s paper mache artworks are all examples. These selections showcase the wide variety and abundance of goods produced in the area.
Aroma, herbal characteristics, and therapeutic value have helped make Gurez black cumin a household name. Locally grown organic rajma is highly prized for its distinctive flavour and scent. Sumbal’s artisans have earned international renown for their exquisite works of paper mache art.
The Self-Help Groups (SHG) enrolled with the JK Rural Livelihood Mission have benefited greatly from the G20 summit in Srinagar, according to Shreen Shafi, manager of the Bandipora District’s programme.
This international expo has provided small and medium-sized businesses with a priceless opportunity to showcase their wares to a worldwide audience. Shafi said that the black cumin and rajma are now able to reach a broader audience via online purchasing platforms thanks to the “Gurez Naturals” brand created by the State Rural Livelihood Mission.
Women-led self-help groups were established by JKRLM-Umeed despite the district of Bandipora’s Gurez and Tulail’s difficult terrain and rather remote locations. Wild black cumin, which is in great demand due to its extraordinary medicinal capabilities, has been successfully harvested by these organisations.
The women-led organisation, with help from JKRLM, created the “Gurez Naturals” brand to sell their wares online and break out of their economic isolation. The group’s brand has been able to flourish in part because of its exclusive focus on the collection of wild black cumin.
The success of the “Gurez Naturals” brand has been cited as an example of how business can be a force for good in the world.
Organisations like JKRLM-Umeed are building inclusive and long-lasting development models by giving women the ability to make their own decisions and providing them with the tools they need.
The SHG ladies have publicly acknowledged their appreciation for the tremendous support they’ve received. They were resolved to present their organic product line to the summit attendees. Their plan is to use this chance to get into the worldwide market and gradually grow their business throughout the world.
The district’s entrepreneurs, with the aid of JKRLM-Umeed and the formation of women’s self-help groups, have introduced the “Gurez Naturals” brand and are working to build a name for themselves on the global market.
This endeavour not only highlights the region’s abundant resources, but also exemplifies the role of entrepreneurship as a catalyst for long-term, broad-based growth.
