Submit your Article

Annapurna Media Network on Saturday organized an 'EV Rally' to raise awareness about climate change and reducing air pollution.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel inaugurated the fourth edition of the AMN 'EV Rally' organized at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu today.

The rally, which started from Bhrikutimandap passed through Bhadrakali, Tripureshwor, Teku, Kalimati, Soltimod, Kalanki, Balkhu, Dhobighat, Ekantakuna, Jawalakhel, Kupandol and Tripureshwor before converging into a gathering at Bhrikutimandap.

Black Ivory Coffee is a rare and luxurious coffee produced in Thailand using a unique process. Arabica beans are consumed by elephants, passing through their digestive system, where fermentation occurs. The beans are then collected from the elephants’ dung, cleaned, and roasted. This process imparts a distinctive, smooth, and rich flavor with notes of chocolate, malt, and a hint of grassiness. Only a small amount is produced annually, making it one of the most expensive coffees in the world. For example, black ivory coffee is often found in high-end hotels and resorts. Black Ivory Coffee offers health benefits similar to those of other high-quality coffees, including a rich antioxidant content, improved mental alertness, enhanced digestion, and potential mood enhancement. Regular consumption may reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and type 2 diabetes. Moderation is key to avoiding potential side effects.

The process begins with high-quality Arabica beans grown in the hills of northern Thailand, typically at an altitude of around 1,500 meters. These beans are handpicked and then fed to elephants, which are cared for by the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation. The elephants consume the coffee cherries, which undergo a transformation in their digestive system. Inside the elephants’ stomachs, the beans are subjected to a natural fermentation process. The digestive enzymes break down the protein in the coffee beans, which is a key factor in reducing their bitterness.

This fermentation process also imparts a unique flavor profile to the beans. After 12 to 72 hours, the beans are excreted by the elephants. They are then collected, cleaned thoroughly, and sun-dried. The result of this process is a coffee with a distinct taste. Black Ivory Coffee is often described as having a rich, smooth flavor with notes of chocolate, malt, and a hint of spice. The fermentation process also gives it a slight earthiness and a unique aroma that is unlike any other coffee.

In Nepal, the integration of black ivory coffee production leverages the country’s diverse ecosystems, traditional farming practices, and fostering. Farmers often use agroforestry systems, intercropping coffee with shade trees, which enhances carbon sequestration and preserves habitats for native flora and fauna. Additionally, the emphasis on organic farming techniques reduces the reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, mitigating soil and water pollution. The coffee industry in Nepal also benefits from the economic upliftment of local communities, as high market prices for black ivory coffee incentivize sustainable farming and conservation efforts.

Moreover, the symbiotic relationship between farmers and elephants fosters wildlife conservation, as communities gain an economic stake in protecting these animals. Finally, the production of Black Ivory Coffee in Nepal represents a bright model of ecological fitness, blending sustainable agricultural practices with economic and environmental benefits, though continuous monitoring and adaptive management are essential to address emerging challenges and ensure long-term sustainability.

The possibility of producing black ivory coffee in Nepal holds significant promise due to the country’s favorable agricultural conditions and existing expertise in coffee cultivation. Nepal’s diverse climate and fertile soil are conducive to growing high-quality coffee beans, which are essential for producing premium coffee. The mountainous terrain, combined with traditional farming practices, allows for organic and sustainable coffee farming.

Additionally, Nepal has a rich tradition of elephant conservation, particularly in regions like Chitwan, making it feasible to integrate elephants into the coffee production process. The synergy between coffee cultivation and elephant conservation can create a unique and ethically appealing product, similar to the model used in Thailand.

Black Ivory Coffee, known for its unique production process and premium pricing, could play a transformative role in the national development of Nepal by driving economic growth and promoting sustainable tourism. Given Nepal’s rich biodiversity and existing agricultural practices, the introduction of black ivory coffee could significantly boost the local economy. The high value of this coffee would provide substantial income for farmers, helping to alleviate poverty in rural areas.

Additionally, the involvement of elephants in the coffee production process aligns well with Nepal’s focus on wildlife conservation and eco-friendly agricultural methods. This synergy between agriculture and conservation can foster sustainable development, ensuring that economic gains do not come at the expense of the environment. The premium nature of black ivory coffee would also position Nepal as a producer of luxury goods, diversifying its agricultural exports and reducing dependency on traditional crops like rice and tea.

Moreover, the unique narrative of black ivory coffee production is likely to attract tourists, enhancing Nepal’s tourism sector. Agro-tourism, where visitors engage with the coffee production process and learn about elephant conservation, can provide an immersive experience that blends luxury with ethical considerations. This can lead to increased tourist footfall, generate revenue for local communities and create employment opportunities. The integration of tourism with agriculture and conservation efforts can lead to holistic rural development, improving infrastructure and services in these areas.

Furthermore, the global recognition of black ivory coffee can elevate Nepal’s brand on the international stage, showcasing its capacity for innovation and high-quality production. This can attract more foreign investment and open up new markets for other Nepali products, contributing to a more resilient and diversified economy. In essence, black ivory coffee can serve as a catalyst for economic, social, and environmental progress in Nepal.

The different forms of life present in the earth at this moment makes for a small fraction of all those that have inhabited our planet since life started around 3.7bn years ago. All those near infinite life forms are connected with one another by the chain of descent or of common origin. Although this notion itself was not new even in his time, Charles Darwin was the first person to systematically elaborate and justify the idea now popularly known as evolution by natural selection. In the book, ‘The Origin of Species’, published in 1959, he explains in great detail the exact mechanism by which the process takes place. It’s considered among the greatest  and most beautiful scientific achievements of all time.

The first premise to understanding Darwin’s theory is that each living form struggles to survive and leave as many offspring as it can. A parent form produces offspring, not all of which are uniform. They may randomly and minutely vary in aspects like habits, constitution, and organization. If these differences are in some way favorable to the bearer, that form is likely to live longer and reproduce more of its kind. When many of such minute variations accumulate over a long period of time, the living forms can acquire different appearances from the parent form so as to appear unrelated to one another. Over a span of time, many such forms grow in complexity, occupying different places within the economy of nature, giving rise to an immensely vast number of species that we see populating the world.

It’s admirable to be able to state these principles with clarity especially at a time when the creationist dogma of Christianity that each species was separately created by God was what most people accepted unquestionably. However, Darwin goes many steps further and illustrates different aspects related to nature, contrasting between how those facts become unexplainable under the theory of creation and how they are naturally explained by the theory of natural selection. 

One such interesting fact is that embryos of species which vary greatly during adulthood are much more alike. This fact is explained by the principle that major variations specified above occur in the species during the age when they are most active or when they are adults and are accordingly inherited at similar ages. Hence the embryo of various related species with common progenitors being alike is explained on the view of species arising through natural selection. However, if they were created separately the question as to why embryos of differently created species should have been so alike cannot be reasonably answered.

Various body parts of different species with widely different functions like the wings of birds, fins of fish and legs of dogs share common structure in the underlying bone indicating their common origin. Natural selection has taken a single raw material from a common parent and out of that, it has formed different organs that would be beneficial to different species in their respective environments by the mechanism of accumulating small variations over a period of time. Again, under the false belief of godly creation of different species separately, these structures remain unexplained.

Besides giving these and more explanations in great detail evidencing the power of natural selection, Darwin takes on many challenges posed against the theory and answers each of them. One such challenge is the fact of the same species appearing in geographical regions vastly far from each other without it being found in the intermediate regions giving the illusion of being created separately in two regions. This he explains by referring to the possible geological changes over the long course of history whereby it’s possible that different continents weren’t as separate in the past as it is now. That would have allowed species from one region to have migrated to another region after which the two regions separated. Migration has been a powerful force in populating the entire planet with different variations of life forms. There are many interesting ways life forms can migrate from one place to another. Seeds of plants can stick into the feet of birds which fly to faraway islands and drop it there unknowingly. Even more amazingly, when some fish swallows the seed of a plant and later some bird devours the fish then goes on a long flight to another distant island, often enough the seed still retains the capacity for germination after the bird regurgitates the undigested seed. 

Even today, many people strongly oppose evolution by natural selection due to ideological biases or ignorance. Although the theory explains so many of the phenomena found in nature which are otherwise completely inexplicable, scientific evidence for it is overwhelming and so much of its predictions have come true. Few findings in the history of science would have had such a powerful impact paving the way for many further discoveries and progress. The Origin of Species is a great read for anyone who wants to reflect upon the diversity of life and wonders where it all came from.

With its wealth of natural beauty and hydropower resources, Nepal is at a turning point in determining its future in terms of both transportation and the environment. The need for sustainable alternatives has grown urgently due to the increasing effects of climate change, growing air pollution, and an increasing reliance on imported fossil fuels. Electric mobility, or ‘e-mobility’, is one of the solutions that is gaining traction and is a game-changer. With Electric Vehicles (EVs) now widely acknowledged as a global force for lowering emissions and changing urban life, Nepal has a strong chance to move toward a future that is cleaner, greener, and more economically resilient.

The nation’s trade deficit is largely caused by Nepal’s current transportation system, which is largely reliant on imported fossil fuels. Every year, the nation spends over $1.5bn on petroleum imports, a financial burden that is not sustainable from an environmental or economic standpoint. This reliance also makes Nepal vulnerable to changes in the price of oil globally and makes a substantial contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. Kathmandu has recently been ranked as the world's most polluted city by Swiss firm ‘IQAir’, with particulate matter (PM2.5) levels reaching hazardous levels. Vehicle emissions are the main cause of this pollution since they emit dangerous substances like carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5), all of which are extremely dangerous to human health.

For Nepal, electric vehicles are especially sensible because of a number of built-in benefits. First, hydroelectric power accounts for more than 90 percent of the nation’s electricity production. Much of this clean energy is wasted during off-peak hours. By helping to absorb this excess power, particularly during nighttime charging, EVs can improve the sustainability and efficiency of the country’s electrical grid. Second, switching to electric vehicles from fossil fuel-powered ones can significantly lower the nation’s fuel import bill, saving millions of dollars in foreign exchange. The change may also boost regional businesses engaged in EV production, maintenance, and battery recycling, which would lead to job creation and economic expansion.

From a health and environmental perspective, the benefits of electric vehicles are clear. EVs have no tailpipe emissions, which would result in cleaner air, particularly within urban areas. Reduced exposure to air pollutants would translate to less respiratory disease and associated healthcare costs. Besides, Nepal has pledged under the Paris Agreement to reduce emissions and has set up a national target of achieving net zero emissions by 2045. A robust switch to electric mobility would take some way towards fulfilling these aspirations. On an individual level, EVs are also financially advantageous to consumers. With lower operating costs since electricity is cheaper than diesel or petrol and minimal maintenance needs, EVs are an economic choice in the long run.

In order to remain cognizant of these advantages, the government has introduced different policies that can provide a boost to electric mobility. These include reducing customs and excise duties on EVs, offering tax concessions to private and commercial users of EVs, and encouraging the usage of electric buses and three-wheelers for public transport. The government’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) include the following detailed targets: 25 percent of sales of private cars and 20 percent of public transport fleets to be electric by 2025 and 90 percent by 2030. To power these ambitions, charging infrastructure is being constructed in inner city areas. The recent Budget for fiscal year 2025/26 has reinforced confidence in the long-term adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), setting a target to replace imports of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles with EVs by 2031. To support this transition, Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel announced that the existing tax structure for electric vehicles will remain unchanged.

Encouragingly, the EV industry in Nepal is gradually picking up. Metro cities, especially Kathmandu and Pokhara, have seen increasing EV adoption. International brands like Hyundai, Skywell, Tata, BYD, MG, Neta etc. have introduced models specifically tailored to fit Nepali roads and preferences. Electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers are also picking up with ease of affordability and usage for short distances. Public transport is also changing; electric buses have begun operating in cities like Kathmandu and Pokhara,

In spite of the encouraging momentum, there are a number of challenges as well. One of the biggest challenges is the lack of charging infrastructure. While there are some fast-charging stations in Kathmandu and in some of the main routes, the network is not enough to facilitate large-scale EV adoption. Convenient and reliable charging points are key to promoting long-distance travel and reducing range anxiety for users. Another challenge is the high initial cost of EVs. In spite of tax rebates, the initial purchase price remains unaffordable to most consumers. 

Public skepticism and unfamiliarity also slow adoption, especially in rural and mountainous areas where skepticism about EV capabilities remains. There are also some concerns regarding battery degradation and the absence of recycling or disposal systems for lithium-ion batteries on both environmental and logistical fronts.

To overcome these barriers, a multi-faceted approach is required that incorporates a broad-based effort. Expanding the EV charging network with public-private partnerships is the priority area. Offering incentives to businesses to install the same in shopping malls, hotels, and other public places can rapidly accelerate infrastructure. Charging public transport buses, microbuses, and three-wheelers would halve emissions. This can be accelerated through subsidies, low-interest financing, and public-private models with government and private players. Economic means such as subsidies to purchase a car, exchange schemes for old cars, and soft loans from banks and co-ops would also convince more people to switch.

Another crucial area is skill development. To maintain and operate electric vehicles, technicians, drivers, and mechanics need to receive training. Certification programs in EV maintenance and battery technology ought to be available at technical colleges and vocational schools. In addition to cutting costs, supporting domestic production and assembly of EVs and their parts can generate job opportunities. In order to encourage manufacturers and investors, the government can help with this by offering incentives like land grants, tax holidays, and infrastructure support. 

In Nepal, there are already a few effective electric mobility examples. Pioneers in this field were the battery-powered three-wheelers known as Safa Tempos, which were first introduced in Kathmandu in the late 1990s. They demonstrated that even in low-income environments, e-mobility was possible.

Similarly, Pokhara’s electric bus initiative with the assistance of development partners has developed a model for environmentally friendly public transport. These examples affirm the viability of electric mobility and the necessity of continuous innovation and support.

The private sector and civil society have played a decisive role in pushing the e-mobility agenda forward. Importers and dealerships have not only brought in EVs suitable for Nepal’s terrain but also provided essential services such as after-sales services and battery guarantees. Environmentalists and civil society groups have played a crucial role in awareness-raising and promoting cleaner air and green transport policies.

By 2030, Nepal could emerge as a regional leader in sustainable mobility. A practical and inclusive vision would include a nationwide network of EV charging stations, the complete electrification of public transportation in major cities, and EVs accounting for at least 50 percent of all new car sales. Local manufacturing of batteries and automobiles would boost the economy and further reduce costs. Strong coordination between government agencies, active private sector involvement, and extensive public engagement and education are all necessary to realize this vision.

In total, electric mobility offers Nepal a singular opportunity to address environmental, economic, and public health challenges with one solution. Endowed with ample renewable energy and a rising public dedication to sustainability, the country is poised to embrace EVs as a signature of its development model. Yet achievement will require not just vision but action through policy, infrastructure, education, and partnerships. With proper measures, electric mobility can indeed lead Nepal to a cleaner, healthier, and richer tomorrow.