The fragrance of natural products prepared by self-help groups under the JICA Forestry Project filled the air at the La-Darcha Fair, held at the tourist and religious site of Kaza. The fair, which lasts for three days, features three stalls for exhibition and sale set up by the JICA Forestry Project.
These stalls showcase traditional warm clothing from Spiti, Sherma tea, Sherma juice, carpets, dried apples, and other natural products. These natural products have quickly become a favorite among both tourists and local visitors. On the first day of the fair, Lahaul-Spiti MLA Anuradha Rana visited the various stalls associated with the JICA Forestry Project's self-help groups.
She highly praised the products and lauded the JICA Forestry Project's efforts to connect local people with self-employment opportunities. Anuradha Rana also enjoyed traditional dishes prepared by the Nikkalum Self-Help Group from Dhankhar. The products from various self-help groups, including the Nikkalum Self-Help Group from Dhankhar, Yato Jomsa Self-Help Group from Demul, Kithling Self-Help Group from Kyuling, Jomsa Self-Help Group from Kyuling, and Semthun Self-Help Group from Langza, are witnessing good sales.
The event was attended by DCF Wildlife Spiti Mandar Umesh Jeware, Assistant Conservator of Forests Chaman Lal Thakur, Forest Guard Kamal Kishore, Subject Matter Specialist Kaza Ashutosh Pathak, FTU Coordinator Tabo Chodon Bodh, FTU Coordinator Kaza Meenakshi Bodh, and other dignitaries.