NTFP by Abiral
NTFP by Abiral
NTFP by Abiral
Sources:
NTFP by Damodar Gaire
NTFP
NTFP lecture slides Pokhara
Internet
Non-Timber Forest Product (NTFP) includes, literally, all products other than timber that come from forest. The
term NTFP was coined by De Beer and McDermott (1989). In their publication on the economic value of
NTFPs in South East Asia, De Beer and McDermott (1989) used the term NTFPs as an alternative to the ‘minor
forest products’ and proposed the following definition:
“Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) encompassed all biological materials other than timber, which
are extracted from forests for human use.”
Different users define NTFPs differently, depending on their interests and objectives. Number of terminologies
such as ‘non-timber forest product’, ‘non-wood forest product’, ‘wild products’, ‘natural products’, ‘non-timber
forest and grassland products’, ‘minor forest products’, ‘secondary forest products’, ‘by-products of the forest’,
have been in use creating the ambiguity among various scholars, implementers, research organizations, decision
makers and users.
Non-wood forest products (NWFPs) -FAO adopted the working definition of NWFPs in 1999 as, “Non-wood
forest products consist of goods of biological origin other than wood, derived from forests, other wooded land
and trees outside forests”.
Definition of NTFPs
De Beer and McDermott (1989)- The term “Non Timber Forest Products” (NTFPs) encompasses all biological
materials other than timber, which are extracted from forests for human use.
Chandresekharan (1995)- Non-wood forest products include all goods of biological origin, as well as services,
derived from forest or any land under similar use, and exclude wood in all its forms.
Mathur and Shiva (1996)- All products obtained from plants of forest origin and host plant species yielding
products in association with insects and animals or their parts and items of mineral origin except timber, may be
defined as Minor Forest Products (MFP) or Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFP) or Non-Timber Forest Products
(NTFP).
FAO (1999) -Non wood forest products (NWFP) are defined as ‘goods of biological origin other than wood
derived from forests, other wooded lands and trees outside forests’ (FAO 1999).
Forest Act, 2049 (1993) -There is no separate definition of NTFP, included in forest products.
"Forest Products" means the following products which are contained or found in or brought from forests:-
(1) Timber, firewood, charcoal, catechu, rosin, wood-oil, bark, lac, pipla, pipli (piper longum), or
(2) Tree, plant, leave, stem, fruit, seed, flower, floss, root, rhizome, bark, gum resins, lac gum, wild herbs,
vegetation and different parts or organs thereof, or
Eg. Grasses, bamboo ratans, gum, resin, MAPs, Silac, lac, lichen, honey, mushroom etc.
# GoN of Nepal has categorized 30 very important NTFP for commercial values and 12 species are enlisted for
domestication and cultivation.
# Nepal has exported 10000- 15000 different forms of NTFP without processing which tends 90% of the total
production.
# The role of NTFP is particularly important in the Himalayan region, where a large proportion of the rural
population depend on them as sources of food, nutrition, fodder, fiber, medicine, condiment, dye, and other
useful materials.
# In addition, the collection and marketing of NTFP is a major source of rural income and an important source
of revenue to the government. NTFP also have high sociocultural, symbolic and idealistic values (cf. Hamilton
2004).
# In the mountains of Nepal, 10-100% of households are reported to be involved in commercial collection of
medicinal plants and other NTFP, and in certain rural areas this provides up to 50% of the family income
(Chhetry 1999; Edwards 1996; Olsen & Helles 1997; Olsen & Larsen 2003).
# The importance of NTFPs was raised for the past few decades as a result of many factors such as the
dependence of rural communities of NTFPs, site quality, new market preferences for natural products,
increasing concerns about forests and biodiversity conservation, and occurrence of many NTFPs among the
biological richness and ecological complexities of natural forests (Grimes et al. 1994).
# Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) include plants used to produce pharmaceuticals, dietary supplement
products and natural health products, beauty aids, cosmetics, and personal care products, as well as some
products marketed in the culinary/food sector.
Some reasons for NTFPs to receive wider attention than timber are:
i. It is almost impossible to transport timber to nearby cities/markets from high hills and mountainous districts
due to physiographic conditions and inadequate road networks. Transportation and trading of raw, semi-
processed or processed NTFPs/MAPs are relatively easier due to lower volumes.
ii. Harvesting of NTFPs such as those of herbs and shrubs origin and parts of trees (leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds,
exudates, etc) are ecologically less-destructive compared with cutting and felling of trees.
iii. NTFPs of herbs and shrubs origin may become harvestable in a year, compared with trees that may take
decades to attain maturity and become harvestable.
iv. Considering the effort, time invested and risk factors, economic returns from NTFPs are far higher than that
of timber.
v. Generally, poor people who are dependent on forest resources cannot wait for long periods to get returns from
the management of their forest.
Scope
2. Altitudes:
NTFP is also classified on the basis of altitude into two categories. One is that is found at high altitude and
another is that is found at low altitude.
High value-These are the NTFPs that are found in altitude above 2000m. Neopicroriza scrofulariflora,
Swertia chiraita, Nardostachys grandiflora, Aconitum spicatum falls under high-value NTFP.
Low value- These are found at an altitude below 2000m. Cinnamomum tamala, Sapindus mukorossi,
Asparagus racemosus, Zanthozylum armatum are the low-value NTFPs.
3. Royalty collection
The government of Nepal has amended the Forest Regulation 1995 in 2009 and categorized NTFP into
following eight types of NTFP for collecting royalty.
Fruit and seed Root and rhizomes
Leaves/stem Bark Whole plant
Flower and fur (bhuwa) Gum, resin, and lac others
A person's livelihood refers to their "means of securing the necessities of life". Livelihood is defined
as a set of economic activities, involving self-employment, and or wage employment by using one’s
endowments (both human and material) to generate adequate resources for meeting the requirements of the self
and household on a sustainable basis with dignity. The activity is usually carried out repeatedly.
It deals with people, their resources (land, crops, labor, knowledge, cattle, money, social relationships, and so
on), and their activities with these resources.
Why livelihood?
For understanding poverty (dimensions, dynamics and persistence) and poverty reduction.
Over a billion people of the world‘s population live in absolute poverty and poverty remains widespread
in both urban and rural areas.
Poverty has been central to many development agencies ‘Agendas (e.g. World Bank, national governments,
etc.)
The Millennium Development Goals include the aim of halving acute poverty globally by 2015
To achieve this target and to internalize above mentioned scenarios.
Human capital
Transforming Livelihood
Vulnerability
Structures and outcomes
Context
Processes
(Shocks, Livelihood Livelihood More income,
trends and assets Structures- level of Strategies increased
seasonality) govn, private sector wellbeing,
decreased
Processes- laws, vulnerability,
policies, culture,
improved food
institutions security etc.
Importance
Gathers the knowledge of origin, evolution and migration of ethnic communities.
Helps in the documenting the culture of ethnic communities.
Provides systematic recording and documentation of indigenous knowledge of plant use in relation with
their culture.
Helps to find out new useful plant resources for various purposes and their proper domestication.
Helps in the establishment of pharmaceutical industries and identifying new alternative drugs due to
shift in the use of herbal medicine.
Helps in documenting indigenous technology and management system for preservation of plant
resources.
Ethnic value of MAPs and NTFPs
Aegle marmelos – Important in the bel bibaha in Newar community, leaves in puja of Hindu community
Citrus medica (biniro) - Essential in the Tihar festival in Newar community
Aessandra butyracea (Chyuri) - chepang community give the tree as a dowry during the marriage
Dioscorea deltoidea (bhyakur) - Raute and chepang community use it as food
Ocimum tanuifolium (Tulsi) - Useful in pujas, used as spices and condiments
Cynodon dactylon (Dubo) - Essential in pujas, used in marriage for making mala
(Note: Add other uses you know)
Ethnobotanical uses:
Medicinal uses:
Acorus calamus (Bojho) - Treatment of cough, cold, gastritis by different ethnic droups like tharu, newars,
Sherpa, limbu
Aegle marmelos (Bel) - medicinal, food and religious use in different communities
Centella asiatica (Ghodtapre) - leaf juice is prescribed to cure fever in children by chepang and danuwars
Rauwolfia serpentine (Sarpagandha) - Root juice is taken to get relief from malarial fever
Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora (Kutki) - cure gastritis, ulcer by sherpas
Azadirachta indica (Nim) – Young branches are used for cleaning teeth by Terai people, used while storing
grains as an insecticide and pesticide
Other uses
Sapindus mukorossi (Rittha) is used for washing and cleaning dishes and clothes
Girardinia heterophylla (allo) is used for its fibre obtained from bark for making ropes in Jumla, darchula,
sankhuwasabha
Daphne spps. (lokta) is extensively used for paper making ( Nepali Paper)
Techniques of inventory and quantification are done on the basis of parts used – 3 categories
1. Inventory of species - Used parts Root and Rhizomes- Suganhawal-valeriana jatamansi And Jatamasi-
Nardostachys grandiflora)
2. Inventory of species - Used parts Fruits (e.g. Bel-Aegle marmelos, Pipla and Timur)
3. Inventory of species - Used parts Whole plant (e.g. Chiraito, Argeli etc.)
Inventory of species - Used parts Fruits (e.g. Bel-Aegle marmelos, Pipla and Timur)
Transect walk- participatory boundary and delineate the area
Locate species on the map- basis is blocks, availability and management objectives
Find out effective area and set sampling intensity (0.1 to 1 %)
Define plot size (if herb, the plot is 1 Sq m, shrub - 25 sq.m and pole 100 sq.m.)
Calculate plot number on the basis of effective area sampling intensity and plot size
Pick the fruits and take the fresh weight
Dry the product for one week and weight again.
2 400 11.28 20 x 20 20 x 20
5 100 5.64 10 x 10 10 x 10
6 25 2.82 5 x5 5x5
4.1 Importance
1. To ensure continuously supply of forest resources (NTFPs)
2. To protect the harvested NTFP from destruction
3. To conserve biodiversity
4. To generate employment
5. To generate revenue
6. To save the money for plantation and cultivation
7. To make the certification of the products easy
Collecting NTFPs can be time-consuming and labor-intensive, so usually do when there is little demand for
farm labor. Moreover, they tend to harvest only when they need the cash rather than during the appropriate
season (Chandrasekharan, 1998).
Very little attention is paid to the quality aspects while pickings/plucking.
Multi-product collection, focusing on a single product and collecting other products as they
encountered, was practiced.
The physiologically immature collection has been leading to total destruction of the habitat, particularly
for medicinal plants and herbs.
Likewise, the destructive harvesting and overexploitation of NTFPs adversely affect the environment
and genetic composition of the plants (Charles, 1994)
Bamboo is one of the most widely domesticated species in Nepal. According to Gautam (1999), although it
hampers crop yield by drying out the soil, this species has several benefits including controlling soil erosion. In
Nepal, it is considered as poor men’s timber.
The following have been perceived problems on NTFPs harvesting/ production in Nepal:
Improper harvesting of whole natural/wild stock of plants, including roots and seeds, before they have a
chance to produce next generation
Harvesting of natural/wild species before they produce flowers and/ or fruits, also reducing the chances
of a next generation
Legal process:
The DFO gives the permit to collect MAPs and NTFPs as per the Forest Regulation 1995.
Person seeking collection of NTFPs are required to submit an application mentioning the type of
NTFP, the area of collection, the quantity as well as purpose of collection.
If collection permit are not banned, DFO gives permit indicating the rules to be followed as specified in
mgmt. plan.
Once the collection is over, the DFO will tally the ntfps collected according to the license issued for
their collection, check the quantities, collect fees and issue a release order for transport or even for
export.
Leaves: The leaves are usually gathered throughout the growing period. They are picked either singly or the
entire stem is cut off and the leaves are separated afterward. The leaf should be healthy, free from diseases,
insects, and pests and clean and dry.
Leaves are generally collected before the flowering period, each year. In case of shrubby plants leaf can be
collected by cutting branches; eg: Taxus, Digitalis, Belladonna, Tejpat etc.
Top parts or buds: The aerial or top parts of the plant are collected with the flower-bearing stem just before or
at the beginning of the flowering stage.
Fruits, flowers and seeds: Fruits and seeds are collected when they are mature.
• Fully bloomed flowers are collected during the dry season. eg: Simal, Dhayero, Chamomile, Pyrethrum,
• Fruits should be collected after maturity, generally at the time of ripening. eg: Amala,Harro, Barro,
Badhar, Pipla etc
• Seeds are collected after full maturity of fruit or before breaking down of fruits. eg: Sarpagandha,
Neem, Timur etc
Root and Stem: Root and stem of the plants are generally collected from September to March. Some
precautions are necessary during the root/ rhizome collection with a view to achieving sufficient regeneration of
the plant. For this purpose, some part of root, stem or tuber should be left in the ground. Generally, rotation of 4
years is appropriate for such products. eg: Kutki,Sarpagandha, Jatamansi, Backhanded, etc
Bark: Bark should be collected during the winter season or before March. It is not good to collect bark at the
time of leaf sprout. In the case of bark, harvesting should be made from lesser than one-third part of harvestable
bole which is generally considered above 1 m above ground surface below 15 cm diameter. Rotation for bark
harvesting should at least be of 4 years. eg. Dalchini, Kaphal, Kaulo, Chhatiwan etc.
The term “medicinal plant” includes various types of plants used in herbalism ("herbology" or "herbal
medicine"). It is the use of plants for medicinal purposes, and the study of such uses.
According to the World Health Organization, "a medicinal plant is any plant which, in one or more of its
organs, contains substances that can be used for therapeutic purposes, or which are precursors for
chemo-pharmaceutical semi synthesis".
Medicinal plants are defined as plants and mushrooms traded to produce pharmaceuticals, dietary
supplement products, natural health products, cosmetics and other personal care products, and culinary
products (definition adopted from Medicinal Plants Specialist Group, 2007).
The term ‘medicinal and aromatic plants’ (MAP) is defined to cover the whole range of plants used not only
medicinally sensu stricto (strictly speaking) but also in the neighboring and often overlapping fields of
condiments (a substance such as salt, mustard, or pickle that is used to add flavour to food), food and
cosmetics.
MAP is not a well-defined term in literature. Any plant used in any type of medical system, such as Ayurvedic,
Unani, Siddha, Tibetan, or in the ethnic healing system is generally categorized as medicinal plants. Aromatic
plant is one having aroma in any of its parts. Categorization of plants as MAP is not always easy as plants tend
to have at least some properties of medicinal value or aroma.
Aromatic plants are a special class of plants used for their aroma and flavour. Many of them are
exclusively used also for medicinal purposes in aromatherapy as well as in various systems of medicine.
MAPs are botanical raw materials, also known as herbal drugs that are primarily used for therapeutic, aromatic
and/or culinary purposes as components of cosmetics, medicinal products, health foods and other natural health
products. They are also the starting materials for value-added processed natural ingredients such as essential
oils, dry and liquid extracts and oleoresins (a natural or artificial mixture of essential oils and a resin, e.g.
balsam).
In Nepal, a number of floristic regions meet and there are huge variations in climates and physiographic
conditions. This has resulted in a rich flora: some 7000 species of plants are represented in Nepal (including 252
endemic species) of which over 700 species are used medicinally. MAPs are an important part of the Nepalese
economy, with exports to India, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, as well as France, Germany, Switzerland, the
Netherlands, the USA, and Canada. These plants have a potential for contributing to the local economy,
subsistence health needs, and improved natural resource management, leading to the conservation of ecosystem
and biodiversity of an area.
Nepal’s ethnic diversity is also remarkable; so are the traditional medical practices. About 80% of total
population inhabit in rural areas, and many of them rely on traditional medicines, mostly prepared from plants
for health care. The majority of Nepal's population, especially the poor, tribal and ethnic groups, and mountain
people, relies on traditional medical practices. A large number of products for such medical practices are derived
from plants. The knowledge of such medical practices has been developed and tested through generations. In
many cases, this knowledge is transmitted orally from generation to generation and confined to certain people.
Most of the people residing in hilly and Himalayan regions of Nepal rely on medicinal plants for their livelihood
support because of remoteness, inadequate land for agriculture and limited livelihood diversification
opportunities. As a result, 10-100% of the population are engaged in collection and trade of MAPs and the trade
contribute up to 50% of the total annual family income.
Studies reveal that about 7000 to 27000 tons of medicinal plants are annually collected and traded from
Nepal. The total export value is expected to be about US$ 60 million. Most of the collected medicinal plants are
exported to India and China in raw form. But with the expansion of road network and technological
advancement in recent years, processing was initiated for some medicinal plants, notably the essential oil
yielding plants. In FY 2015/016, 36.8 tons of essential oils worth US$2.6 million was exported from Nepal
(TEPC data) from 21 species of wild and cultivated medicinal and aromatic plants. Thus medicinal plants are
becoming the major exporting commodity of Nepal.
It is high time that Nepal keeps its policies favorable and create an environment for new investment in this field
in order to benefit from the developing world-wide demands for MAPs and associated products. The
government of Nepal has identified 30 commercially important MAPs for further research and management.
Twelve of these plants are further identified for development of agro-technology.
How plants are identified? - You have to describe an aromatic or medicinal plant as following. (You can also
describe in your own way.)
• Amala
Introduction: Medium sized deciduous tree reaching up to 15 m. Leaves simple, linear-oblong blunt, entire,
hairless, small petiole, arranged in two ranks on slender branchlets, light green, resembling pinnate leaves; 1 to
1.5 cm long and 0.2 to 0.3 cm wide with distinct midrib. Flowers minute, greenish yellow.
Availability: Naturally distributed from 150 to 1600 m throughout Nepal. Also found in sloppy areas and forests
near roads.
Harvesting Time: September to November
Part used in Trade: Fruit
• Ashuro
Introduction: Strong-smelling, deciduous shrub growing up to 3 m tall in height. Petiole covered by slightly
yellow colored smooth bark. Leaves opposite, stalked, 7 to 19 cm long, 4 to 6 cm width, elliptic to lanceolate,
acuminate, entire, soft and highly scented. Flowers sessile, white with tiny red spots having two Flowers from
December to April. Lip shaped petals.
Availability: Distributed from 600 to 1600 m in open areas and on uncultivated land and edges of cultivated land
throughout Nepal.
Harvesting Time: Leaves are harvested throughout the year. Flowers from July to October.
Part used in Trade: Leaves along with petiole and Flower.
• Aswagandha
Introduction: Evergreen shrub growing approximately 1.5 m tall in height with straight branches. Whole plant is
covered by white hairs. Leaves small petioled or sessile, lower part covered by many white hairs, leaf margins
straight. Flower light yellow- green in color.
Availability: Naturally distributed in some parts of India and the Mediterranean region. In Nepal, it can be
cultivated in the tropical region.
Harvesting Time: September to November.
Part used in Trade: Root is used in trade. It is not available in Natural forests of Nepal, so in large quantity, roots
are imported from India.
• Attis
Introduction: Erect perennial herb about 1 m high. Leaves petioled, circular, five- lobed, hairy, lobes dentate.
Flowers bluish in long, one-sided spikes. Flowers in July - August.
NTFPs: Compiled by Abiral Acharya 23
Availability: Distributed from 2000 to 4000 m on open slopes, endemic to Western and Central Nepal.
Harvesting Time: October to December
Part used in Trade: Tuber
• Bajradanti
Introduction: Perennial herb growing up to 30 cm in height. Leaves compound, small petiole; leaflets numerous,
4 cm long and 1.5 cm wide, alternately small and large diminishing in size from the uppermost downward,
dentate, silky tomentose beneath. Tip of a stalk of flower yellow in color.
Availability: Distributed from 1800 to 3500 m in open ground and pastures throughout Nepal.
Harvesting Time: October to December.
Part used in Trade: Root
Description of the traded part: Root at first are light rose in color and later brown in color, around 1 cm in
radius, bitter in taste and destitute of flavor.
Uses: Commercially used in the preparation of toothpaste. It is also used as medicine in the treatment of
stomach pain and during worms
• Barro
Introduction: Deciduous tree about 30 to 40 m high. Bark dark rough, wood somewhat yellow. Leaves long
petioled, alternate, 10 to 25 cm long, 5 to 14 wide, mostly at the end of branches, elliptic to ovate, leathery,
entire, base narrowed and unequal. Flowers sessile, yellowish, in axillary slender spikes, odor offensive. Flowers
from October to November. Fruits from November to February.
Availability: Distributed from 300 to 1100 m in Eastern and Central Nepal. Common in Shorea robusta forests.
Harvesting Time: December to March.
Part used in Trade: Fruit and Seed.
• Bel
Introduction: Deciduous, thorny, medium-sized tree about 8 to 15 m high growing in cultivated lands and
forests. Bark brown, lobed, scaly. Leaves petioled, alternate, trifoliate, leaflets ovate to lancolate, 4 to 6 cm long,
oval, dentate, aromatic. Flower greenish white in subterminal panicles, scented. Flowers from April to June and
fruits next year from April to July.
Availability: Distributed up to 1100 m throughout Nepal. However, common in Chure and bottom of South
Chure, Doon areas and in lower belt of hilly districts at mid- Western Development Region of Nepal.
Harvesting Time: August to September.
Part used in Trade: Fruit
Introduction: Perennial aromatic herb about 1 m high, common in wet land areas. Leaves basal, 40 to 150 cm
long, 1 to 3 cm wide, flat, linear, midrib distinct, margin wavy. Flowers small, bisexual, yellowish, condensed or
cylindrical Spadix. Flowers from May to June. Fruits from August to September.
Availability: Distributed from 500 to 2300 m asl in marshy and wetland areas.
Harvesting Time: September to February.
Part used in Trade: Rhizome
Introduction: Annual aromatic herb growing up to 60 to 90 cm tall in height, multi- branched. Leaves
compound; leaflets slightly hairy with minute lobes. Petiole internally hollow; externally covered by green
colored leaves.
Availability: This plant is exotic to Nepal. In Nepal, cultivated in lower plains of Tarai from 500 to 1800 m.
Harvesting Time: Flowers can be harvested three times annually. Generally, flowers are harvested March
onwards.
Part used in Trade: Flower
Description of traded part: Radius of Flower is 1.3 to 2.5 cm, outer sepals are white and inner petals are yellow
in color. Flower has very sweet smell. Smell is continued even in dry flower.
• Chiuri
• Chutro
Introduction: In Nepal, 32 species and more than 8 varieties of Berberis are found. Berberis asiatica and
Berberis aristata are major two traded species of Berberis. In Notification (Gazette) of Government of Nepal,
Barberry is indicated as Berberis spp. At the local level, in many places (Mahonia napaulensis) is also known as
Barberry.
NTFPs: Compiled by Abiral Acharya 25
Berberis asiatica: Spiny shrub about 3 m high. Leaves small petioled, raised in the cluster, 2 to 7 cm long, 0.5 to
2 cm broad, ovate, leathery, margins coarsely spinous, venation netted. Flower stalked, yellow. Fruit fleshy or
pulpy, blue-black when ripe. Flowers March-May. Fruits June-July.
Berberis aristata: Also Spiny shrub about 3 m high. Leaves short-petioled, raised in the cluster, 1.5 to 9 cm
long, 0.5 to 2 cm broad, ovate, with trifid spines, entire or spinous dentate, smooth, base tapering. Flower
stalked, yellow, in drooping racemes. Fruit ovoid, blue-black when ripe. Flowers March-June. Fruits July-
November.
Availability: Berberis asiatica is distributed from 1800 to 3000 m and Berberis aristata is distributed from 600 to
2500 m throughout Nepal. Harvesting Time: October to December.
1. Propagation Structures:
a. Seed treatment
1. Panchaunle
2. Kutki
3. Chiraito
– Sowing is done in October– November, as seeds sown in March–April show very poor germination and
low survival rate.
– Seeds of Chiarito germinate well under nursery conditions in the media having FYM (farmyard
manure), sand, and soil in 2:2:1 ratio. Seeds are sown in rows 10–15 cm apart and covered with a 0.5-
cm thick layer of sand or fine soil.
– It takes about 25–28 days for complete germination to take place under nursery conditions.
– The land is prepared by ploughing two to three times, followed by harrowing and planking to have a
fine tilth as well as conserve moisture.
– Application of compost in the soil @ 3.75 tonnes/hectare and forest leaf litter @ 2 tonnes/hectare at the
time of field preparation is recommended.
– Transplanting of seedlings is done in March–April, and the seedlings are planted with the ball of earth at
a distance of 45 cm × 45 cm in the field.
– The plant can be intercropped with potato, as both species can be harvested within six to eight months,
and the time of sowing, as well as harvesting of both species, is almost the same.
– Weeding along with hoeing is done manually once in a month.
– Irrigation practices: A proper drainage system should be ensured by digging channels around the fields,
especially during rains, to protect the plant against stagnating moisture. Alternatively, raised beds
should be prepared. The field should be irrigated as and when required, may be every alternate day
during summers and weekly in winters.
– Disease and pest control: No specific insect/pest and disease have been observed on the crop.
Harvest management
Plants are collected when the capsules are fully formed during summer or in October– November. Plants flower
within six to eight months and thus provide yield and seeds for propagation every year. The whole plant is
collected and dried. When harvested early, some plants can be left in the fields so that seeds mature, which can
be collected in October for the purpose of growing next crop.
The collection/harvesting of seeds is difficult due to their very small size. Therefore, a piece of cloth should be
placed below the plant while harvesting. The seeds, after air drying, are stored in polythene-lined small jute bags
to be used as germplasm for next season. After harvesting, the plants should be dried in shade and packed
accordingly.
– Seeds are sown during November-December in the poly house at lower altitude, during March-April in
open beds at medium altitude and during May in the alpine area.
– Seedlings are transplanted after six to eight weeks in the field. At lower altitude root growth as well as
number and length of leaves increases rapidly as compared to a higher elevation.
– Fibrous root formation takes place after the third year of growth when plants are raised by seedling.
– Vegetative propagation through the splitting of roots is found most successful and observed better for
multiplication as well as for higher production within a short period than cultivation through seedlings.
– Sandy loam and acidic soil rich in organic carbon and nitrogen are found best for germination as well as
for the better survival of seedlings and productivity.
– At lower altitude (1800-2200m) plain beds with slight tilt are found suitable for cultivation unlike
horizontal and vertical beds at the alpine site.
Manure/Fertilizer
• For cultivation, better survival and yield of Jatamansi at lower altitude 6-7 tonnes/ha manure is required.
• Beds need excessive watering/irrigation to decrease the mortality rate. During dry season i.e. May-June
and September-October watering must be done at every two days interval at a lower altitude. Weeding
also depends on the condition of the soil and presence of weeds. Generally, weeding must be done at a
weekly interval in the first year of growth and during the second and third year twice in a month.
Harvesting/Post-Harvesting
• To obtain a higher amount of bioactive ingredients, it must be collected during the month of September
at lower altitude, while in the month of October at higher altitude. The harvesting period for this species
is 3-4 years; the harvested roots are washed and dried in shade.
5. Sarpagandha
Soil and Climate: Clay-loam to silt-loam soils, rich in organic content is suitable for its commercial cultivation.
Nursery Raising & Planting: The crop can be propagated by seed, stem cutting, and root cuttings. Seed
propagation is the best method for raising commercial plantation.
• By seed:
– The nursery is prepared by raised beds of 10x10 m. Dimension under partial shade made up of one-
third of well-matured FYM and leaf mold, and two-third amount medium of silt-loam soil.
– The seeds are sown, 2-3 cm apart in rows in shallow furrows during April - May. The furrows are
then covered with a fine mixture of soil and FYM. Keep the beds just moist by light watering.
– Germination starts after 15-20 days and continues up to 30 to 40 days. Seedlings are ready by mid-July
for transplanting.
Manure/ Fertilizer: Farmyard manure at (20 to 25 q/hectare) is required for land preparation has given good
response by the crop.
Irrigation: Rauwolfia, if grown in the areas which receive rainfall of 150 cm or above well distributed
throughout the growing season. It needs regular irrigation where the temperature rises high combined with low
rainfall during the rainy season. It is suggested that 15 to 16 irrigations, at 20 days interval in summer and at 30
days interval in winter are sufficient.
Weeding: The field should be kept relatively weed-free in the early period of growth. This means giving two to
three weddings and two hoeing in the first year where sole Rauwolfia crop is taken or 5-6 wedding where
intercrops in Rauwolfia are practiced.
Harvesting/Post-Harvesting
– Root yields at different age and climate have shown that 18 months duration crop produce maximum
root yield. Transplanting is done in July; the harvesting period coincides with the shedding of leaves
during the early autumn season next year. At this stage, the roots contain a maximum concentration of
total alkaloids. At harvest, the root may be found to go up to 40 cm deep in the soil.
– After digging the roots are cleaned, washed and cut into 12 to 15 cm pieces for convenience in drying
and storage. The dried roots are stored in polythene lined gunny bags in cool dry place to protect it from
the mold.
Yield: On an average, root yield varies from 15 to 25 q/hectare of dry weight under irrigation depending upon
soil fertility, crop stand, and management.
6. Timur
– Freshly harvested seeds are best for the large-scale cultivation. Mature seeds can be collected in June–
July. In the absence of sufficient seeds, terminal stem cuttings may be used as propagules.
– The crop can be raised by developing a nursery or by directly sowing in the main field. The seeds are
sown in August– September in polybags (nursery) or main field. Stem cuttings may also be planted in
the nursery during monsoon in July–August. The seeds germinate in 20–30 days after sowing. The
seedlings attain a height of 20–30 cm by June–July when they can be transplanted to the main field.
– About 2–3 kg seeds are required to raise a nursery for plantation on 1 hectare. Direct sowing may
require about 30–50 kg seeds per hectare at a spacing of 50 cm × 50 cm. No seed treatment is necessary
before sowing. However, stored seeds may require cold stratification for up to three months and may
germinate in February– March.
– Land may be ploughed two to three times using disc harrow and cultivator to make it friable and weed-
free. About 10– 12 tonnes per hectare of FYM (farmyard manure) should be mixed with the soil as a
basal dose before transplantation.
– Transplanting and optimum spacing
– After 10–12 months of growth in the nursery, transplanting in the field can be done during May–June if
irrigation facilities are available. Otherwise, it is done in July– August (monsoon season) under rain-fed
conditions. A spacing of 50 cm × 50 cm is recommended, which accommodates about 40 000 plants per
hectare.
Weeding should be carried out during the initial establishment phase, 30–45 days after transplanting, and again
at 60–80 days after transplanting. Later, weeding may be carried out only as and when required.
Irrigation practices: The plant requires frequent irrigation during the establishment stage. Once established, the
plants are able to survive in rain-fed conditions and only life-support irrigation is required during the summer
months.
Disease and pest control: The crop is generally free from any disease, insect or nematode attack, and
physiological disorders.
Harvest management: Flowering appears on five-year-old plants in March–May. Fruiting occurs in July–
August. The crop, thus, takes five to seven years to mature. Fruits are collected in May–June. Stem pieces, if
needed, may be cut during January–February before the flowers appear.
Post-harvest management: The herbage and fruits should be dried in shade. The fruits may be cut into pieces for
drying and extracting seeds. Well-dried seeds are stored in damp-proof containers.
Yield: The yield of fresh and dry fruits is approximately 20 quintals per hectare and6.50 quintals per hectare,
respectively.
7. Sugandhwal
8. Lauthsalla
9. Kurilo
Seed treatment: To protect crop from soil borne disease and pest, before sowing do seed treatment by soaking
seeds in cow urine for 24 hours. After treatment seeds are sown in nursery beds.
– Seeds are sown in the month of April. Sow seeds on raised beds of 30-40 cm width and of convenient
length. After sowing cover beds with thin cloth so as to retain moisture. Seedling germination starts
within 8-10 days. Seedlings are ready for transplanting when they attain the height of 45cm. The
seedlings are transplanted at the ridges of 60 X 60cm.
– Transplanting of seedlings should be done in the month of June - July.
– Depending upon its growth habit, use spacing of 4.5m x 1.2m and 20cm in height.
Fertilizer: At the time of land preparation, apply well decomposed FYM (Farm Yard Manure) and mix well in
the soil.
Weed control: Frequent weeding is required in early growth periods of the crop. 6-8 hand weeding is required
for making field weed free.
Irrigation: First immediate irrigation should be done after planting the seedlings in the main field. However, in
the starting irrigation is done at the interval of 4-6 days and then after sometime irrigation is done at weekly
intervals. Irrigation must be done before the harvesting so that digging of roots become easier.
Harvest: The roots of plants get mature by 20-30 months after transplantation. Depending upon soil and climatic
conditions roots get mature within 12-14 months. Harvesting is done in March-May month when seeds get
ripen.
Post-harvest: After harvesting, peeling is done in boiled conditions. After peeling roots are air dried. Dried roots
are packed in airtight bags for storage or transportation purposes.
10. Pipla
11. Sugandhkokila
12. Gurjo
– The plant is very hardy and it can be grown in almost all climates but prefers warm climate.
– It grows well in almost any type of soils but Medium black soil or red soil is the best.
– Can be propagated by seeds and also vegetative cuttings.
– Seeds are collected during winter and sown in the nursery in March-April. Seedlings are ready for
planting during monsoon.
– The best way of propagation is vegetative way.
– The cuttings of the small finger thickness with 6 to 8 inch length long stem having two nodes are used.
– This may be planted in poly bags of 4 inch × 6 inch size. The poly bags filled with mud, sand and dry
cow dung in the ratio 1:1:1.
– The rooting of the cuttings takes almost 4 to 5 weeks.
– The cuttings will be ready for planting into the main field by this time in the month of May-June.
– The seeds are curved. Flowers appear during the summer and fruits during the winter.
– It requires some support preferably Neem and Mango trees, such plants are supposed to possess better
medicinal values.
– Periodical hoeing is done, both in the nursery and field as per requirement. The medicinal plants have to
be grown without chemical fertilizers and use of pesticides.
– Organic manures like, Farm Yard Manure (FYM), Vermi-Compost, Green Manure etc. may be used as
per requirement of the species.
– To prevent diseases, bio-pesticides could be prepared (either single or mixture) from Neem (kernel,
seeds & leaves), Chitrakmool, Dhatura, Cow's urine etc.
– The field after plantation should be irrigated periodically as and when required weekly or fortnightly.
– Mature plants are collected, cut into small pieces and dried in shad.
– Yield approximately: 8-10 q. /ha.
(If you need more detailed explanations of this sub-topic, refer to the notes from IOF, Pokhara; you’ll be enlightened .)
5.4 Collection and Extraction of MAPs:
Processing of NTFPs:
1. Distillation: Steam distillation, Water distillation, Cold pressing and gas extraction.
Steam Distillation
The water is heated to a high temperature under low pressure. The steam is then fed into coils in a chamber
below a perforated tank holding closely packed (and in most cases dried) plant materials and passes through the
tank. The volatile oils are driven off by the steam and carried out through piping to a condenser or heat
exchanger, where they are cooled to 25-30 degree centigrade. Next water and oils are collected and separated in
a flask or separator based on their difference in density. The by-product marc left after removal of the steam and
essential oil may be marketable after grinding for production of incense, tooth powder or spices.
Water distillation
Water distillation is used to obtain essential oils from some flowers that would be damaged by steam.
With this process the plant material is covered with water and boiled and then vapours are captured.
2. Extraction: Extraction is the separation of medicinally active portions of plant using selective solvents
through standard procedures. The purpose of all extraction is to separate the soluble plant metabolites, leaving
behind the insoluble cellular marc (residue).
– The initial crude extracts using these methods contain complex mixture of many plant metabolites, such as
alkaloids, glycosides, phenolics, terpenoids and flavonoids.
– Some of the initially obtained extracts may be ready for use as medicinal agents in the form of tinctures and
fluid extracts but some need further processing.
Cutch and Katha are obtained by boiling the heart wood of Khair (Acacia catechu) in water. Chief constituents
of the heartwood are catechin (katha) catechu tannic acid (cutch). A third element is also produced from Kahir
tree in the form of white powder known as kheersal.
Extraction of Cutch
• Chips of heartwood are boiled in water but not treated with steam.
• Heartwood is cut into chips and are boiled in water.
• The liquid is poured into other pots in which liquid of thicker consistency is boiling.
• This process is continued until the liquid is of correct consistency.
• Then it is poured into an iron vessel and boiled further to attain a consistency of a syrup.
• It is then poured into a wooden frames to cool down and harden into dark brown solid brick like mass
which becomes cutch.
Katha is prepared from the heartwood that shows white specks of kheersal at first stage. The re-boiled thick
liquid is poured into a mould of fine sand which absorbs the tannic acid and leaves the residue of catchine to
crystallize out into Katha. It is similar to cutch extraction but most of the tannic acid extracted.
Lac is a resinous substance secreted as a protective covering by the Lac insect Laccifera lacca, which lives as a
parasite on many host plants. The young larvae of this insect live on the young succulent shoots of the host
plants and draw nutrients from their sap. They secret a thick resinous fluid to cover their bodies. This secretion
Lac Hosts: The lac insects has so far been recorded from over 100 species of plants, but the common hosts are
only about a dozen or so. The most important of these are:
Kusum produces the best quality lac. Lac is the only of its kinds, in its origin as an animal resin.
Shellac
The refined form of lac is shellac. Lac is handpicked and is in crude form whereas the object of the manufacture
of shellac is to refine the crude form and to remove the dye, animal remains and other impurities.
Uses of shellac:
Shellac is very useful in industries. It can be easily molded into various shapes and is widely used in the
manufacture of phonograph records, insulating materials for electrical goods etc. It is a source of spirit varnish
used for interior works since it is not water resistant. It is also used in the manufacture of sealing wax, drawing
inks, water colours; for stiffening felt hats and for sizing papers and for decorative purpose.
Bees are an integral part of our lives and without them life would take a very different turn. There are around
25,000 bee species in the world. The bees provide important natural products and services. The bees pollinate
flowers and therefore play an important part in food production. Most plants are totally dependent on certain
types of bees for reproduction. Bees are also domesticated and raised for honey and wax.
A single honeybee can pollinate thousands of flowers daily. Pollination supports a number of ecosystem services
including food chain development without which a lot of plants would die off.
NTFPs: Compiled by Abiral Acharya 38
Among other roles, the honey bee is the sole producer of honey. Honey is a valuable economic commodity and
is used for medicinal purposes. For thousands of years, honey has been used by man for food. It is estimated
that about 100g of honey provides equivalent nutrition to 6 liters of milk. It contains sugars, vitamins and
minerals that are easily absorbed by the body. Medically, honey can be used as a sedative, laxative or antiseptic.
• From the bees, we get honey. It is partly digested mixture of nectar and pollen. It is regurgitated by
honey bees. Honey has a food value so also medicinal value. It is used as a laxative and as antiseptics.
• From the bees, we get bee wax. It is used to manufacture cosmetics, face creams, paints and polishes,
ointments, etc.
• The venom of bees is used in the treatment of arthritis and snake bite.
• The bees are the chief pollinators. They perform cross pollination, leading to an increase in yielding of
plant products due to hybridization.
• One in three bites of food we eat is dependent on honey bees for pollination.
• Of the 100 crops that provide 90 percent of the world's food, over 70 are pollinated by bees.
Silk is obtained from the cocoons of the silkworm. Chemically speaking, silk is made of proteins secreted in the
fluid state by a caterpillar, popularly known as 'silkworm'. These silkworms feed on the selected food plants and
spin cocoons as a 'protective shell' to perpetuate the life. Silkworm has four stages in its life cycle viz., egg,
caterpillar, pupa and moth. Man interferes this life cycle at the cocoon stage to obtain the silk, a continuous
filament of commercial importance, used in weaving of the dream fabric. Silk is a wonderfully strong, light,
soft, and sensuous fabric produced from cocoons of the Bombyx caterpillar, or silkworm. Of all the fabrics, silk
is regarded as the finest and most beautiful.
Silkworms are not worms but caterpillars, the larvae of moths. They belong to two families: Bombycidae (the
commercial silkworm), which feed on mulberry leaves, and Saturniideae (the so called wild silkworms), which
primarily eat oak leaves.
All butterfly and moth caterpillars produce silk, as do spiders, but only silkworms produce the lustrous, long
fiber that is made into commercial silk. Most commercial silks comes from the Bombyx mori, a silkworm that
originated in China. Over 300 varieties of this caterpillar are found in China today. More than 600 varieties are
found in Japan. Tussar wild silkworms are bright yellow in color and may reach a length of six inches. Their silk
is strong but rough and doesn't die very well.
Geographically, Asia is the main producer of silk in the world and produces over 95 % of the total global output.
Though there are over 40 countries on the world map of silk, bulk of it is produced in China and India, followed
by Japan, Brazil and Korea. China is the leading supplier of silk to the world. India is the second largest
producer of silk and also the largest consumer of silk in the world.
Types of silk
There are five major types of silk of commercial importance, obtained from different species of silkworms
which in turn feed on a number of food plants. These are: Mulberry, Oak Tasar, Tropical Tasar, Muga and Eri.
Properties:
B. As source of Employment:
C. Clothing:
Mushroom is a fungi producing a fleshy body, especially one consisting of a stalk with an umbrella cap.
Mushrooms are the above ground fruiting bodies of FUNGI, which contain the organism’s reproductive spores.
As the mushroom develops from an underground mycelium and pushes upward, it is protected by a thin
membrane which eventually ruptures. Leaving fragments on the cap.
Mushroom cultivation is a relatively new concept in Nepal. It was introduced in 1974 by Nepal Agriculture
Research Council (NARC), who initially only introduced the ‘White Button Mushroom’ in 1977. After which
the Plant Pathology division of NARC started distributing spawn. Then after, Oyster mushroom was introduced
to farmers in 1984, which were farmed by only a handful farmers in Bhaktapur and Kathmandu district.
Currently, there are over 5000-6000 mushroom farmers in Kathmandu only who at an average produce over
10000 kg a day. Pokhara and Chitwan are other major mushroom producers.
• Protein: Most mushroom have a high protein content, usually around 20-30% dry weight.
• Fiber: Helps lower cholesterol and is important for the digestive system.
• Vitamin D: Essential for the absorption of calcium.
• Copper: Aids in helping the body absorb oxygen and create red blood cells.
• Selenium: An antioxidant that helps neutralize free radicals, thus preventing cell damage and reducing the
risk of cancer and other diseases. Mushrooms contain more selenium than any other form of produce.
• Potassium: An extremely important mineral that regulates blood pressure and keeps cells functioning
properly.
Wild mushrooms
There are many species of wild mushrooms found in various areas of Nepal. Villagers consume wild mushroom,
but the harvest of wild mushroom is in very less amount. Many species have been placed under medicinal plant
by the department of the forest. Some important wild mushrooms of very high commercial value are:
Among these, Cordyceps sinensis has become an important source of income for many people in the mid-
western region. Most of morels collected in the forest of Nepal are exported abroad. It is not yet cultivated
artificially.
Benefits of mushrooms
• Mushroom has very high nutritional value. It has plenty of nutrients and popularly called “vegetable meat”.
• It consists of protein, Carbohydrate, Vitamins, Minerals, Fibre, etc. Also, it is almost fat free. The fatty acid
found is in an unsaturated form which is essential for our body. It could be the very good solution energy
food crisis.
• Mushrooms are neither a plant nor an animal it is rich in disease-fighting phytochemicals it boosts
immunity provides protection against colds, flu, and other viruses, there are many health benefits of
mushroom-like prevention of cancer, diabetes and tumors.
• It keeps the immune system healthy and strong and boosts heart health.
Tannin
It is a generic name given to a wide variety of chemical compounds secreted by tissues. Almost all the plant
tissues secret tannin although their quantity may vary from species to species. Tannins are complex organic
compounds which are astringent and acidic. They are glucosidal in nature and consist of carbon, hydrogen, and
oxygen like the carbohydrates. They are water soluble.
Tanning: It is a process by which animal skin and hides are treated with tannins. Skins and hides are changed
into leather through this process.
Uses of Tannin:
Tannins are of great economic importance. They convert animal hides into leather by uniting with their proteins.
The leather thus formed is stable, resistant to air, moisture, temperature and bacterial action.
• Tannin also reacts with iron salts to form dark-blue or greenish-black compounds, which are the
basis of ink.
• Tannins are also used in medicines because of their astringent properties.
• They are also used in oil drilling to reduce the viscosity of the drill.
Tannin is found in almost all the plants but only some species contain substantial amounts. Tannins can be
obtained from the following sources:
• Bark tans: Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), Oak (Quercus spp.), wattle (Acacia mollissima), larch (Larix
decidua), Babul (Acacia nilotica), Sal (Shorea robusta), Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna)
• Wood tans: Chestnut ( Castanea dentata),
• Leaf tans: Sumac (Rhus spp.), Anogeissus latifolia, Amala,
• Fruit tans: Myrobalan nuts (Terminalia chebula), Babul pods, Amala (Emblica officinalis)
• Root tans: Tanners dock (Rumex hymenosepalus)
Dyes:
Dyes is the name given to the substances which are used for imparting color and staining purposes.
Vegetable dyes have been in use since times immemorial. The use of vegetable dyes has, however, declined
after the discovery of synthetic dyes from coal-tar. Only a few natural dyes have been able to compete with the
synthetic one. Most plant tissues secret dyes as a part of their natural physiology. Dyes are simple compounds
hydrogen and oxygen with nitrogen present in some cases.
Uses
Dyes are mainly used in textile industries for giving fast colors to the fabrics, and for coloring paints, varnishes,
leather ink, paper, wood, cosmetics, medicines, and toothpaste.
Natural dyes are obtained from various parts of a number of plants. Some examples are ;
Woods dyes: Santaline- Santaline is obtained from the heartwood of Pterocarpus santalin. The red dye is
obtained from the wood and root of the plant. The dye is used to color idols etc.
the dye is also obtained from P. tinctorius, Artocarpus (Artocarpus heterophyllus), & Badahar (A.
lakoocha) Acacia. Cutch extract from Khair.
Bark dyes: Not so important. Alnus spp. Casuarina equisitifolia – for toughening fisherman’s net, Myrica
esculata, Terminalia alata.
Flower and fruit dyes: Flowers of Palas, Tuni (Toona ciliata). Flowers of Sindure (Mallotus Philippines) –
Kamela powder.
Root dyes: Chutro (Berberis aristata), Majitho (Rubia cordifolia).
Leaf dyes: Indigo – the leaves of several species of Indigofera contains a soluble colourless glucoside,
which oxidises in water to form the insoluble indigo. Due to the introduction of synthetic dyes, this
vegetable dye has lost its importance.
Leaves
The leaves are used for many purposes. Few species of importance are as:-
• Soft fibers from baste or, stem like jute and hemp
• Hard fibers from leaves like Agave, manila (Musa textilis) and Argeli.
• Surface fibers from the surface of stems, leaves. Or, seeds like cotton, simal, kapok.
Flosses
Flosses are obtained from the fruits of a number of trees and shrubs like Bombax ceiba, Calotropis gigantia,
Ceiba pentandra.
NTFPs: Compiled by Abiral Acharya 43
Coirs: The coir fibers are obtained from the thick fibrous husk of the fruit of Cocus nucifera or coconut palm. It
is used in making mats brushes and brooms, ropes and coir mattress.
Oil seeds: Seeds of different plants yield different kinds of oils. However, few of them only can be used for
commercial extraction.
• Sal seeds, Shorea robusta, are popular in Nepal for the extraction of sal butter. Azadiracta indica is famous
for neem oil, Madhuca butyracea (butter tree) is for ‘Chiuri butter” Madhuca indica for ‘mahuwa butter’.
• Seed oils in general used alone or, along with other raw materials in the manufacture of different kinds of
products like scents, soaps, medicine, drugs, and confectionaries.
Distillation of grasses like Citronella grass (Cymbopogon nardus), lemon grass (Cybopogon flexosus),
Palmarosa grass (Cybopogon martini).
Distillation of leaves like: Eucalyptus leaves (Eucalyptus spp), dhsingare leaves (Gultheria fragmantissma), and
mint leaves for mint oil (Mentha arvensis).
Distillation wood like: Sandlewood oil (Santalum album), Pinewood oil (Pinus spp), agar oil (Aquilaria
agallocha) produce aromatic oils that are used in making various cosmetics, medicinal and sanitization products.
Resin are exuded by the plants partly as a normal phenomenon and partly as a result of disease or injury.
Resin is:
– Insoluble in water
– Collected from artificial wounds
– Soluble in ether, alcohol
– Brittle, amorphous and more or less transparent
– Burnable and has lusture.
Types of resin:
Resin tapping and its related activities like extraction, collection and transportation are one of the major sources
of employment for a large number of rural poor people.
Based on the quantity of resin collected and exported outside the district, revenue is generated to central as well
as local government and Community Forest User Groups. The social economic advantage of oleoresin tapping
in Nepal are as follows:-
a. Employment opportunities
b. Enhancement of business and industries
c. Revenue for government income of community forest. User groups and
d. Source of foreign currency
Tapping techniques
Around 1850, Pierre Hugues developed the first pine resin tapping technique in the Landes de Gascogne,
France, system that is applied even nowadays, for example, in Indonesia. In 1869, Steele is granted an US patent
in which he describes the basis of the fish bone tapping technique. Later, the technique through some
modifications performed in the 1950’s by Mazek Fialla in Europe, and become known today as the Rill method,
applied in India.
We can identify four tapping techniques currently used around the world: Chinese method, American method,
French method, Rill method. Recently a new method, Borehole method, has been developed in India.
1. Chinese method:
A downward-pointing V-shaped groove is cut every day, deep enough to reach the secondary xylem. The first
groove is cut about 1.2 m above the ground, and subsequent grooves are cut below it. The groove reaches
roughly half way around tree’s circumference. No chemical stimulant is used. This method is used mainly in
China.
2. American method:
A horizontal groove is cut every 15 to 18 days. The grooves are cut upward, the first at 20 cm above the ground.
Only the bark and phloem are removed. The length of the grooves is about one third of the tree’s circumference
NTFPs: Compiled by Abiral Acharya 46
and the height varies from 2 to 3 cm. A stimulant paste with 18 to 24 percent sulphuric acid (H2SO4) is applied.
In the paste formulation, stimulants are also used as chemical adjuvants, such as, for example, CEPA (2-
chloroethyl-phosphonic acid, an ethylene precursor) or salicylic acid. This method is used in Brazil, Argentina,
Portugal and Spain.
Slices of 8 to 10 cm wide are cut into the trunk every 10 to 15 days, reaching the secondary xylem. The cut
surface may extend to 1.8 m from the ground after two years of extraction. This method was developed in the
mid-nineteenth century in France and is now used mainly in Indonesia.
V-shaped grooves, 2 to 3 mm wide are cut every 3 to 7 days. The grooves are cut upwards. A stimulant of 50
percent H2SO4 and 50 percent hydrochloric acid (HCl) is applied in the form of a spray. This method is currently
used in Indonesia, India.
5. Borehole method:
The borehole method involves drilling holes into the wood to open the maximum number of resin ducts.
1. Holes of 2.5 cm (1.00 inches) in diameter are drilled to a depth of 10 cm (4.00 inches) measured from
the bark-xylem interface.
2. These holes are drilled with a slight slope towards the opening, so that oleoresin drains freely.
3. Multiple boreholes are arrayed evenly around the tree’s circumference, at an interval of one month
during tapping season.
4. A chemical spray of 1:1 mixture of 10 percent 2-chloroethyl-phosphonic acid (CEPA or Ethephon) and
20 percent sulfuric acid is applied inside holes with a fine spray bottle.
5. A spout is tightly fixed in the hole.
6. The polythene bag is attached to the spout with the help of tie for the collection of oleoresin and
replaced when filled with oleoresin during the period of tapping.
Rill method of resin tapping in Nepal (As per the Resin Collection Guideline, 2064):
1. With the help of bark shaver, the loose and rough bark over a surface area of about 45cm x 30cm,
leaving a space of about 15 cm from ground level, is removed.
2. The position of the blaze and groove is marked on the stem in the vertical position, with the marking
gauge and wooden board. Blaze size 32 cmx 16 cm.
3. The central groove (4 mm deep & 7-9 mm wide) is cut with the help of the groove cutter, drawing the
cutting tool from above downwards. 2 mm deep rill is prepared on both side of grove maintaining an
angle of 45 degrees with the groove.
4. The lip (7cmx6.5 cm) is then fixed to the tree with two bullock shoe nails so that it fits snugly against
the tree.
5. A 5 cm long wire nail is driven into the tree about 2.5 cm below the mid point of the lip for hanging the
collection pot on it.
6. For freshening the blaze, the freshening knife is held at the lowest point of the central groove and is
pulled along the blaze line marked on the tree.
7. The same operation is repeated on the other side of the groove.
8. For second and subsequent freshening which are repeated at the weekly interval, the guide of the
freshening knife should move touching the upper side of the previous rill.
9. The rills should be parallel to each other and should neither extend beyond the limits of the blaze nor
fall short of it.
10. The average width of the bark left between consecutive rills is 5 mm and the average width of the rill is
6-7mm.
11. Every week, one rill is added on both sides. (During the collection period of 8 months, 32/32 rills)
Grading of turpentine:
-
- brownish colour
Marketing:
- Nepal exported rosin and Turpentine worth Rs 1.70 billion to India and Pakistan in Fiscal Year 2015/16.
- As per Trade and Export Promotion Centre (TEPC), “Until few years ago, rosin exports used to be in
millions. Now it is fetching billions of rupees,”
- Around 10.34 million kilograms of rosin, and raw materials were exported in F.Y. 2014/15
- Nepal used to export rosin to China until 2012/13.
- However, there has not been any such export to China in the past three years (20132016).
- Has started exporting rosin to Pakistan since 2013/2014; Rosin worth Rs 20.32 million was exported to
Pakistan in previous year.
Value Addition: The amount by which the value of an article is increased at each stage of its production,
exclusive of initial costs.
Value addition involves 3 steps:
1. Post harvesting Practices (Cleaning, Drying, Grading, Packaging)
2. Processing of intermediate goods: (Distillation, Extraction)
3. Production of consumer good: (formulation, mixing, compounding, packaging)
6. Performance 3. Market
monitoring and based solution
assessment identification
4. Market
5. VC
based
development
solution
facilitation
assessment
9.2 Types of Value Chains:
In terms of geographical coverage
- Local VC: all activities confined at local level
- National VC: all activities confined at national level
- Regional VC: all activities confined at regional level i.e. South Asia, East Europe etc.
- Global VC: design, assemble, production of parts, marketing and branding activities in different
countries around the globe
In terms of activities
- Primary activities oriented VC
- Secondary/support activities oriented VC
- Production level VC
- Marketing level VC
- Physical VC: activities that involve people in the business
- Virtual VC: activities that is confined in computer, computer-based business
In terms of sector
- Product oriented VC: e.g. Forest, agricultural etc.
- Service oriented VC: e.g. hospitality industries, health care
Types of Value Chain Governance
Market-based.
- “arm’s length” transactions between buyers & sellers
- litle or no formal cooperation among participants
Balanced
- .– fairly equal decision-making among participants
- .– cooperation but no one dominates
Directed
– controlled by firm(s) who determine product specifications, trade rules, etc.
Hierarchical
Captive
Relational
Modular
10.1 Importance
- Main source of income to earn livelihood for communities residing to the fringe areas of Forest.
- Marketing and trade of NTFP is of economic importance to country.
- Main source of living for indigenous community.
- Helps in the sustainable utilization promoting conservation.
- Helps to sustain the national and local forest based industries.
- Provides the estimate of flow of resources.
Village
Traders
Local processors
Traders
Terai Wholesalers/Regional
Traders
Export of processing
products (essential oil,
retinoid etc.)
Prospects
- Biodiversity conservation
- Utilization of infertile / waste land
- NTFPs demonstration
- Household use and medical care
- Establishment of NTFP based cottage industries and handicraft.
- Livelihood improvement and consequently supporting to poverty alleviation
Product
claiming
Certification systems:
FSC: Forest Stewardship Council
PEFC: Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification
IFOAM: International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement
FLO: Fair Trade labelling Organization
ANSAB: Asia Network for sustainable Agriculture and Bio-resources.
NTFP certification has evolved as a prospective solution to the myriad ecological, economic and social
challenges associated with commercialization.
Opportunities and Challenges of NTFP Certification:
Opportunities:
- Inform the consumer and companies and provide them an alternative to the exploitative use of resources.
- Integrating NTFP into timber assessments
- Decreasing logging of valuable NT species
Certification is based on an assessment of the social, environmental and economic aspects of forest management
described in the 10 Principles and 56 Criteria (“standards”) of the FSC. If the forest operation meets these
principles and criteria, then it can receive a certificate and has the right to use the FSC label.
Principle 1: Compliance with laws and FSC Principles – to comply with all laws, regulations, treaties,
conventions, and agreements, together with all FSC Principles and Criteria.
Principle 2: Tenure and use rights and responsibilities – to define, document and legally establish long-term
tenure and use rights.
Principle 3: Indigenous peoples’ rights – to identify and uphold indigenous peoples’ rights of ownership and use
of land and resources.
Principle 4: Community relations and worker's rights – to maintain or enhance forest workers' and local
communities’ social and economic well-being.
Principle 5: Benefits from the forest – to maintain or enhance long-term economic, social and environmental
benefits from the forest.
Principle 6: Environmental impact – to maintain or restore the ecosystem, its biodiversity, resources, and
landscapes.
Principle 7: Management plan – to have a management plan, implemented, monitored and documented.
Principle 9: Maintenance of high conservation value forests – to maintain or enhance the attributes which define
such forests.
Principle 10: Plantations – to plan and manage plantations in accordance with FSC Principles and Criteria.
Nepal is the 1st country in Asia and 5th in the world to acquire the FSC certification for MAPs and NTFPs.
Also the 1st country for group certification.
1. Quality Assurance:
Quality assurance is about the prevention. Its purpose is to ensure that the VAPs are not below the standard
expected. It is applied to production process as the quality is most affected at that point. ISO are quality
assurance system. It prevents the degradation of quality.
2. Quality Control:
It is about identifying which products do not meet the organisation standards. It identifies low quality products
which have escaped quality assurance. Such products are escaped
As NTFPs go on production, a series of value is added in chain. So there must be a standard to check the quality
of Products in each stage of chain.
There is two popular model of certification i.e. individual and group certification practiced worldwide. Whereas
the group model is so popular in developing countries, due to the cost- effectiveness. Nepal has also been
adopted the group model due to the size of CFUGs, adjoining forest patches, availability of proper manpower
and management points of view. The average size of CFUG is 85 ha. (DoF, 2007 cited in Acharya, 2007) and
individual CFUGs cannot afford enough money and resources in the certification process. Whatever the size of
the forest and numbers of forest owners, there is no restriction on joining under one scheme (Acharya, 2007). As
a non-profit program, Smart Wood developed the resource manager certification model to reduce the costs of
certification. Smart Wood has been committed to creating an effective model so that small landowners have the
option of participating in certification (Smart Wood, 2002). FECOFUN has the crucial role to implement forest
certification in CFUGs as a resource manager. FECOFUN is certificate holder and responsible to FSC to
compliance its P & C in all certified CFUGs. It is equally responsible to all certified CFUGs for capacity
building, monitoring, and coordination to all CFUGs.
• Tenth five-year plan recognized forest certification as one of the major tools to access in the
international market and create a competitive situation
• NTFP Policy 2061 also recognize the involvement of rural poor family in NTFP management and
forest certification to be adopted for SFM and market access
• Interim Plan: National Planning Commission proposed to allocate some budget for forest
certification initiatives
1. Tenth five year Plan recognized forest certification as one of the major tool to assess in the international
market and create competitive situation.
2. NTFP Policy 2061 recognized involvement of rural poor family in NTFP management and Forest
certification to be adopted for SFM and market access.
3. Interim Plan: NPC proposed to allocate some budget for forest certification initiatives.
4. MPFS
7. Forest Policy 2015: A mechanism will be established to develop quality standard and certification of forest
products for the promotion of national and international marketing of NTFPs.