Save Earth without losing a buck: Kashmir hosts first-of-its-kind Ecological Entrepreneurship Festival
Organized by Sagg Eco Village and Mool Sustainability Research and Training Centre, in collaboration with Next Mile Co., a Mumbai-based sustainable business consulting firm, the Festival held in Kashmir’s Ganderbal district highlights the role of artisans and craftspersons in sustainable and cultural tourism.
Sagg Eco Village is a natural farm cum retreat centre located on foothills in the Ganderbal district of Kashmir. Sagg Eco Village designs, develops, builds and promotes recreational, educational and lifestyle services, spaces, products and programmes based on the integration of natural resources, cultural wisdom and modern needs.
Over the years Sagg has developed many creative services, spaces, products and programs promoting a healthy and procreative lifestyle that are much appreciated by the participants. These include educational, work and leadership capacity building and consulting programs for individuals, groups and organizations.
The event was attended by stakeholders associated with sustainable local business and local artisans. Insha Mir of Eco Kash spoke about the regional craft and eco-friendly materials, the two things that made her enterprise unique; handicrafts have been invaded by machine craft and there was a lot of negative environmental impact which needed to be addressed in some way. Therefore the focus of EcoKash is to channelise the artisans and do work in a sustainable and environmentally-friendly fashion, she said.
Tawfeeq Yousuf spoke about the entrepreneurial journey in space sustainable beekeeping. He talked about the importance of bringing in new ideas in business and giving consumers the right knowledge about the usage of sustainable products such as raw honey.
Dr Maleeha Gul, Dept. of Management Studies, University of Kashmir on the occasion said that there is a need to address the gap between academia and industry so that students can gain practical exposure to entrepreneurship. She hailed the interactive session at the Kashmir festival for gaining practical exposure regarding entrepreneurship.
The event will go a long way by sowing the seeds of ecological entrepreneurship in Kashmir and beyond. The work to organise the next edition of the festival has already begun,” said Fayaz Ahmad Dar, Founder, Sagg Eco Village.
