Promoting Himalayan Products: Experiences of The Mountain Institute
in Nepal
• Workshop on Promoting Mountain Products, New Delhi, India
• Karma Bhutia • The Mountain Institute
• December 18, 2015
The Mountain Institute an international non-governmental organization committed to
conserving mountain environments, empowering mountain communities, and sustaining mountain cultures around the
world
!!!
Working in oldest, longest and highest mountain ranges in the world!
Rasuwa & Dhading
Solukhumbu
Humla
Ilam, Panchthar
TMI Working Area in Nepal Himalaya
Sankhuwasaba
Current Projects! Past Projects!
Promoting Himalayan Products 1. Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs)
• Objectives • To conserve wild MAPs populations • To increase incomes and improve livelihoods • To build local capacity for conservation
• Activities • Training on cultivation and conservation of MAPs - more than
9,000 farmers trained and an equal number replicating the learning's
• Cultivating 10-13 different species in over 2,000 hectares land • Establishing community nurseries • Community-based monitoring of flora and fauna • Supporting linkages with traders and markets • Formation of MAPs Cooperatives and capacity building of
members
Income from MAPs 2006-2013!2006-2011! 2012! 2013!
Income in USD
$ 990,000 $ 780,000 $ 770,000
Districts (3) Ilam, Panchthar,
Taplejung
(6) Ilam, Panchthar,
Taplejung, Sankhuwasabha,
Rasuwa and Dhading
(6) Ilam, Panchthar,
Taplejung, Sankhuwasabha
, Rasuwa and Dhading
Income Range
• $ 300 and above per annum in most districts • $ 35,000 per annum in a few cases
Promoting Himalayan Products….. 2. Allo (Himalayan Nettle) Objectives • To encourage sustainable production, promotion of natural fibers in
the Himalayan regions • To empower indigenous groups, marginalized communities so that
economic and social benefits flow to the producers • A particular focus on rural women-led nettle fiber producer groups
Activities • Training in sustainable harvesting and cultivation of Allo • Formation of women friendly Allo producer groups • Training on weaving, knitting and fine production • Strengthen the capacity of Allo groups, including provision of weaving
machines
Income from Allo - Production & Sales - 33 women Allo weaving groups with over 1,800 women members associated - Collectively earned $19,500 in 2014
Promoting Himalayan Products….
3. Alpine and Pasture Management Objectives • To conserve alpine and pasture land through
strengthening local herders cooperative and groups Activities • Alpine reforestation in the denuded areas above
4000m and nursery establishment • Preservation of juniper from overharvesting • Establishment of kerosene depots • Introducing improved livestock breeds • Formation and capacity building of Pasture User
Groups and Dairy Cooperatives
Income from Dairy Products
• By 2009 more than 1,000 herders were associated with local Cooperatives
• Produced dry cheese and butter and sales of over $60,000 in 2012/2013
• 11 Pasture Users Groups formed • Reduction in unproductive livestock • Over 770,981 seedlings in 496.65 ha of barren
land planted in pasture and forests
Challenges
Difficult to travel in project area of Nepal Himalaya
Policy Level • Appropriate policies to support
cultivation of MAPs • Supportive policies for promotion
of high value, low volume mountain products
• Facilitating cross border trade
Infrastructure and Services • Infrastructure development –
access to roads, transportation, markets, storage facilities
• Access to finance and need for increased capacity for financial transactions
• Insurance for products, • For MAPs - Leveraging MAPs
branding, certification • Attracting investors
Challenges…. Research and Knowledge
• Research on impact of climate change on mountain products
• Knowledge about resilience and adaptive capacity of products
• Diseases and pest management (e.g. in MAPs, livestock) and access to appropriate treatment
• Protecting and sustaining eco-friendly farming systems
• Building on and strengthening traditional knowledge and practices
New Diseases
Future Focus 1. Scaling up the promotion of MAPs cultivation
• Cultivation and sustainable harvesting trainings • Marketing support: Cooperatives strengthening; access to
finance 2. Value Addition
• Sub-sector market analysis and networking with private sector • Value-addition (business development, business planning,
improved storage, processing, certification, branding, etc.) 3. Conservation of wild stock of over-harvested MAPs
• Community based monitoring 4. Improved livestock and rangeland management, & promotion of dairy products 5. Support in research and development for improved
processing techniques, fiber extraction tools and equipment for Allo processing
More than 9000 farmers trained
Transplanting Weeding and Harvesting
Start up Seeds
Transporting Chiraito seeds Receiving seeds in
Sankhuwasabha
More than 18,000 farmers cultivating
Ok Aalu (Lilium nepalense) Cultivation
Himalayan Yew (Taxus wallichiana) Cultivation
MAPs Cooperatives Formed
MAPs Co-op in Ilam District Community Based Depot
Transporting and Marketing
‘Origin Certificates’ provided by the District Forest Offices
Allo (Himalayan nettle)
Dairy Products
THANK YOU !!!
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