A case of a vulnerable group harvesting non-timber forest ...€¦ · This case study attempts to...
Transcript of A case of a vulnerable group harvesting non-timber forest ...€¦ · This case study attempts to...
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A case of a vulnerable group harvesting non-timber forest product and accessing food
Background: Saptari district (administrative unit in Nepal) of Nepal is rich in variety of tropical forest products. For a
long time, people of Saptari have been using these forest products for various purposes. Over the last
decades it has been facing severe deforestation problems and consequent damage to the natural resources
particularly in the foothills of Churia hills.
Traditionally the landless people living in the Churia foothills, who represent the target group of
Rural Community Infrastructure Work (RCIW) programme, earn their living either by selling
labour in landowners' farms or by selling fuel wood. Excess collection of fuelwood for sale
from nearby forest for decades had increased deforestation in the area, leading to increased soil
erosion, aggradations of the riverbeds and consequent flood problems. Community forest user
group (CFUG) of Behra Chhap, a group affected by seasonal flood and draught initiated to
address the problem at the micro-level by cultivating Babiyo grass (Eulaliopsis binata) to
conserve the soil as well as to make income from the grass, thereby improving livelihoods.
This case study attempts to explain the success story of Behra Chhap CFUG (community forest
users group)on how they have benefited from the
Babiyo grass is a resilient grass species,
indigenous to the southern foothills of the
Himalaya. It is mainly used for paper
production in small paper mills and rope
making. Besides this it is also used for
thatched roofing, fencing and handicrafts
making. The grass is twisted by hand and foot
to make rope. Therefore, in addition to the
production of Babio as raw material, it also
provides an opportunity for engagement in
rope making skill.
Project Support: RCIW is operating in the district since 1997, the aim of the collaborative
efforts of RCIW programme and Department of Soil Conservation and
Watershed Management (DSCWM) is to improve the socio-economic
conditions of beneficiaries on the one hand and to check deforestation and
soil erosion, on the other.
Upon the initiation of the CFUG, the project has worked as a partner with
the CFUG to promote cultivation of Babiyo grass. There are 33 households
in Behra Chhap CFUG. Of the total households, 86 % are Dalits
(occupational caste group) and remaining households are Brahmins and
Chhetri (higher caste). The CFUG was founded in 1995. Cooperation with
RCIW/DSCWM started in 2000 with a project of Babiyo plantation.
To start the cultivation of Babiyo, small plants were collected from mostly depleted forests of
the Churia foothills. They were planted into different beds prepared within barren lands of
community forest. These forests are often bare and do not have enough ground cover to prevent
soil erosion. A total of 4 ha were planted with Babiyo plants in the beginning. Within three
years, the area under Babiyo cultivation has increased to 7 ha.
The programme paid rice for the user group members to compensate part of the labour cost they
provided for planting Babiyo. Each member of the group received 4 kg rice per labour day plus cash at
the rate of NRs1/kg of rice. The cash part was contributed by Jandol VDC as per the programme policy.
Display of project board
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New innovation of Babiyo farming for income generation has changed the motivation of CFUG
members. Efforts to stabilize gullies have been initiated by planting over 600 bamboo suckers. Some of
these seedlings were provided by the German Development Service (DED) while some were collected
from nearby forest.
WFP: World Food program
MLD: Ministry of Local Development
DSCO: District Soil Conservation Office
VDC: Village Development Council
UG: Users Group
Photo: Food Distribution to the beneficiaries
Benefits of the Project: � Preparing beds for the Babiyo plants and promoting cultivation of Babiyo has improved the
condition of the degraded forest as well as the economy of CFUG members.
� With the introduction of Babiyo as a new source of income generation, the food security
situation of the poor and landless households has improved.
� The Babiyo grass can be cut twice a year in the plantations without harming the plants, therefore
it is providing income to the poor at regular intervals.
� Due to strong soil holding capacity of bamboo's roots, there have been some effects on soil
conservation in the bamboo planted area. It is expected that in two years, these seedlings will be
matured enough to produce the needed construction material, which can substitute demand for
timber that are collected from the local forest. The ultimate benefit from increased availability of
bamboo would be reduced pressure of the people on local forest for fuelwood and timber.
� Besides Babiyo plantations on the community forest, fruit trees like mango, banana and litchi
have also been planted.
� Last year the group has also grown ginger, turmeric and oal in approximately 1 ha with support
from GTZ/IFSP (Integrated Food Security project) project. Production and income from the
cultivation of these cash crops has contributed to improve the nutrition status the CFUG
members. Besides home consumption, marketable surplus were sold at local markets. The group
has prepared beds for the plants, which is across the slope so as to prevent water and soil
erosion.
The following table shows the status of income earned by the group from June 2002-May 2003
Table: Status of production and income from community forest in 2002/03
Crops
Production
(kg)
Market price
(NRs/kg)
Total profit
possible
Babiyo 6400 4 25600
Babiyo rope 6400 28 179200
Ool 300 50 15000
Ginger 125 40 5000
Total Project costs: NRs 294,478
a) WFP Rice consumed : 10.5 MT equivalent to NRs157,500
b) MLD cash for Rice Transportation: NRs11,000
c) DSCO cash for construction material NRs 94,478
d) VDC contribution for unskilled labour NRs
e) UG contribution NRs. 31,500
USD 74=nepali rupee 1
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Turmeric 350 30 10500
Note: Two prices are used for Babiyo: the price for the raw product and the price for the processed
Babiyo rope.
The forest nurtured by the CFUG has been developed into a multi-layer tree and grass species. On the
bottom, vegetables and Babiyo have been grown, on the mid part, bamboo and bananas have been grown
and on the top valuable forest tree-species and fruit trees have been grown. The different root systems of
these plants also provide a very effective soil protection as some are shallow rooted, some are medium
and others are deep rooted plant species.
Future Extension: In next few years, the CFUG has planned to increase the area under Babiyo cultivation to 10 ha, which
will be almost one third of the total area (i.e. 31.5 ha) managed by the CFUG. The CFUG has also
planned to cultivate Kurilo (Sitaweri, Asparagus racemosus), a medicinal plant that can be sold for
around 160 NRs/kg at local markets. DED is interested to support this crop as a new source of income
for the members of CFUG.
Operation and Maintenance: GTZ-IFSP supported a local NGO Mahuli Community Development Committee (MCDC),
which is providing social
mobilization support to the group
for the last two years. After some
training related to O and M from
the MCDC, the group members
has made a plan for operation and
maintenance. A female
chairperson is now taking care of
the business affairs of the Behra
Chhap CFUG.
Ms. Devi Sardar, Chairperson
(see inset) "The motivation of the group has also strengthened. We would like to improve and
extent our plantation and also try something new in the coming season."
The profits are partly invested in a savings and credit programme, which was initiated by RCIW and is
supervised by MCDC. Meetings of the savings and credit takes place fortnightly where new plans and
problems are also discussed. The savings activities have been functional. Up to now, over NRs 54,000
have been saved by the members on a group account. Of the total amount, nearly NRs 19,000 have been
invested among members for income generating activities and for meeting emergency needs of
members. Availability of credit from ones own group has reduced dependency of the members on
moneylenders for loan.
Lesson:
As it is shown from the example of
the Behra Chhap CFUG in Saptari
district, the natural regeneration of
raw materials from the community
forest can become a main income
sources for majority of poor low
caste people. The group members
are optimistic to improve their
livelihoods from the sustainable
management of high value plant
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resources. It is expected that vulnerability of the CFUG members will decrease because of improved
income and natural resource base.