The farmers, mostly women in low-altitude and hard-to-access villages, possess unique knowledge of over 200 local plant species, such as mountain ginger and rhododendron, which can be used in the manufacture of essential oils, lip balms, organic candles, bio-soaps and other high-value products.

A project supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), aims to further study and harness the potential of these plants, train the farmers on biodiversity protection, and then develop products for sale in lucrative domestic and international markets.