Technology Constraints
Current processing methods of Allo in many areas are time-consuming and inefficient for large-scale production5. Technology improvements are considered the best way to increase incomes, as local producers can sell higher-quality products, rather than exporting only allo fibre to countries with the better technologies13. In the last decade ACP and other NGOs have focused on bringing in technical upgrades to encourage the continual expansion of the market for handcrafted goods3 2. The introduction of a foot-powered spinning device increased efficiency by six times in one area5.
Labour Issues
In one village, most respondents collected Allo bark in January, after the staple crops (millets, maize, paddy rice) had been harvested11. Some travelled distances up to four hours in order to harvest the plant11. Women and men were shown to be involved in the painstaking extraction task5 but women did the majority of the days-long work, due to the amount of men seeking employment abroad11 13. Allo bark is covered in many stinging hairs16 and owing to the traditional methods of peeling the bark, women who have spent their life working on the plant have been left with damaged hands and teeth5.
For the most part, women are the textile producers7. Allo processing marks a social gathering time for many, during which stories are told and fibres are spun11. In textile craft initiatives, which are supported by ACP, empowerment of women involved in its production has been of utmost importance and in their case an overriding goal3. Acknowledgement of the person producing or involved in producing the goods is considered both a beneficial marketing strategy and a source of encouragement to the creator, an emphasis of fair-trade systems7. The increased responsibilities of women for income generation have led to several women-led Allo initiatives with focuses on both local and international demands, particularly in Sankhuwasabha in Eastern Nepal2.