A Community Engagement Driven Initiative Linking Forest Conservation, Skill Development, and Market Access

The Assam Project on Forest and Biodiversity Conservation (APFBC), Phase II, is a comprehensive initiative jointly funded by the French Development Agency and the Government of Assam. The project is designed to restore forest ecosystems and strengthen biodiversity management by working in close collaboration with forest-dependent and forest-fringe communities across Assam.

At its core, APFBC Phase II recognises that long-term conservation outcomes are inseparable from community well-being. By promoting skill development, entrepreneurship, and sustainable alternative livelihoods, the project aims to enhance household incomes while reducing economic dependence on forest resources thereby supporting both ecological and social resilience.

Community Engagement and Market Access Through Banashristi

A central pillar of APFBC Phase II is Community Engagement, with a strong emphasis on building robust market access for handcrafted and food products produced by forest-dependent communities. These products are promoted under the registered community brand Banashristi, which represents ethical production, indigenous skills, and sustainable sourcing.

For this approach, the project focused on creating direct interfaces between rural producers and modern markets.

Buyer–Seller Meets: Bridging Communities and Markets

As part of its community engagement strategy, APFBC Phase II organised five Buyer–Seller Meets across Assam to connect community producers with buyers, institutions, and digital platforms.

Buyer–Seller Meets Conducted

• Guwahati – 28 March 2023
  
• Guwahati (Flipkart Samarth Workshop) – 20 January 2025
  
• Kokrajhar – 4 April 2025
  
• Dibrugarh – 12 June 2025
  
• Jorhat – 8 July 2025
  
  

These platforms enabled meaningful interaction, product showcasing, and market-oriented learning for community beneficiaries.

Objectives of the Buyer–Seller Meets

The primary objective of the Buyer–Seller Meets was to transform skilled beneficiaries into active entrepreneurs by establishing direct and sustainable market linkages. The specific objectives included:

• Market Linkage and E-commerce Access: Facilitating connections with individual buyers, aggregators, and national digital platforms such as Flipkart, through its Samarth programme, to enable wider market reach.
  
• Economic Empowerment: Strengthening local economies and fostering self-reliance among forest-dependent communities to reduce livelihood pressure on forests.
  
• Product Refinement and Market Readiness: Enabling constructive feedback from professional buyers to improve product quality, design, packaging, and overall marketability.
  
• Market Linkage and E-commerce Access: Facilitating connections with individual buyers, aggregators, and national digital platforms such as Flipkart, through its Samarth programme, to enable wider market reach.
  
• Economic Empowerment: Strengthening local economies and fostering self-reliance among forest-dependent communities to reduce livelihood pressure on forests.
  
• Product Refinement and Market Readiness: Enabling constructive feedback from professional buyers to improve product quality, design, packaging, and overall marketability.
  
• Professional and Business Training: Building capacities in quality control, pricing mechanisms, professional packaging, and basic financial record-keeping.

Participation and Key Stakeholders

The Buyer–Seller Meets witnessed participation from senior government officials, industry representatives, academic institutions, development agencies, and a large number of community beneficiaries.

Key Officials and Dignitaries

• Shri Sandeep Kumar (IFS), PCCF & HoFF, Assam Forest Department; Former PCCF (Wildlife) & Project Director
  
• Shri Satyendra Singh (IFS), Addl. PCCF (Forests) & CEO (CAMPA); Former Activity Director, Community Engagement
  
• Shri Anurag Singh (IFS), Addl. PCCF (P&D) & Project Director, APFBC Phase II
  
• Shri Sunny Deo Choudhary (IFS), CCF & Activity Director, APFBC
  
• Shri Suman Mohapatra (IFS), Addl. PCCF-cum-CHD, Forests BTC (Kokrajhar Meet)
  

• Shri Krishno Kamal Deori, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Dhemaji (Dibrugarh Meet)

Corporate Representation

• Shri Girish Nair, Associate Director, Flipkart
  
• Shri Akash Mishra, Director – Government Relations, Flipkart
  

Supporting Organisations and Buyers

The initiative was strengthened through the participation of a wide network of institutions and organisations, including:

Government and Academic Bodies

• Central Institute of Technology (CIT), Kokrajhar
  
• Bodoland University
  
• District Industries and Commerce Centre (DICC)
  
• MSME Department
  
• Handloom & Textile Department
  
• Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat
  
  

Development Agencies and NGOs

• BRAWFED (Bodoland Regional Apex Weaving & Handicrafts Federation)
  
• NERSWN, BRLF, The Ant.
  
• APEDA, HEDFi, NERAMAC, TRIFED
  
• Woodberry (Delhi), CK Udyog Food Pvt. Ltd. (Jorhat)
  

Community Participation

Each Buyer–Seller Meet engaged approximately 100 participants, including members from Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) and Eco-Development Committees (EDCs). Beneficiaries represented multiple districts such as Tinsukia, Digboi, Lakhimpur, and Kokrajhar, ensuring broad regional participation and learning exchange.