Maya Gurung, a 50-year-old woman from Taplejung, has been involved in cardamom fiber handicrafts for over a decade. She actively participates in harvesting cardamom, drying the plants, and extracting fibers from them. Using her handcrafting skills, she creates beautiful products from these fibers.
Maya now earns a good income from this craft. She produces around 50 different decorative items, including bags, from cardamom fibers. "My parents used to make ropes from these fibers, which were very durable," she says. "I thought of making other products to sell, and with practice, my skills improved."
Since 2012, Maya has been running her handicraft business with an initial investment of Rs. 68,000. Her enterprise now employs 15 local women and generates annual sales of up to Rs 4 million. "After expenses, I save about Rs. 1.2 million per year, which covers all household costs," she shares.
Her products are sold from Biratnagar to Kathmandu and even at fairs in Jhapa, Birtamod, Kakadbhitta, and Dhulabari, extending to Kolkata, India. She has also participated in the Indo-Nepal International Trade Fair and Tourism Festival in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
Cardamom fiber products are durable, attractive, and require no dyeing, making them popular. "They last for years and come in natural colors," Maya explains. "People appreciate Nepali handmade goods."
Initially, marketing was a challenge, but after success at local fairs, demand went up. "Now, we receive orders from Kathmandu and other places, at times struggling to meet demands," she says.
Maya returned to the Dehradun fair for the second time after good sales in 2018, proving the growing appeal of her sustainable, traditional crafts.
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