“Until a few years ago, the butterfly pea flower was just another climbing vine in my village,” says Nilam Brahma, who lives in the northeastern Indian state of Assam.
Known locally as aparajita, the plant is distinguished by its vibrant blue flower.
Two years ago, Brahma learned that women in her community were earning money by selling the blooms, which can be dried for tea or used as a natural blue dye.
She decided to join them.
“The results surprised even me,” she recalls. “The first time I earned $50 from selling dried flowers, I felt a shock. It made me believe I could control my own future.”
What began as an experiment soon grew into a small enterprise. Brahma secured a loan and invested in solar dryers, which helped her process flowers more quickly, preserve their vivid color, and meet the quality standards demanded by buyers.
By James Kisoo
