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 !!!