Stakeholders have concluded that no government agency has shown interest in the conservation, management and trade promotion of Himalayan herbs. The program was organized by NSAP Nepal and Forest Consumers Federation Nepal at the district headquarters Gamgadhi where participants expressed serious concerns about the ambiguity of the main jurisdiction between the Division Forest Office, National Park Office and the local level, the poor assessment of the productivity and ecological limits of Mugu forests, and the neglect of the livelihoods and local economy associated with herbal collection at the policy level.
Although the Nepal government has generally set the herbal collection period as October-November which is practically not a period due to the harsh climate, high altitude and remoteness of the Himalayan region. Herbalist Jigmet Lama said that the current policies are largely based on academic literature, and that the traditional knowledge, experience, and skills of herbalists are not formally recognized.
Similarly, while it is appropriate to make land registration mandatory for herbal cultivation and implement similar provisions for wild products, the government should provide loans to herbalists at subsidized rates through banks and cooperatives under its business support firm, while the multi-tax system and complex land and forest ownership system are creating obstacles in business promotion, said Soru Rural Municipality Chairperson Dharma Bahadur Shahi.
Stating that the herbal sector is not a priority for the state, Mayor Bishnu Kumar Bham of Chhayanath Rara Municipality said, “Herbs are a major potential for the Himalayan district, but it has not been properly addressed at all three levels, policy, budget, and program.” Mugum Karmarong Rural Municipality Chairperson Tshiring Kapne Lama said that if traditional knowledge is not documented, there is a risk of losing skills that have been used for generations.
Manjan Bahadur Karki, head of the District Coordination Committee Mugu, said that an institutional mechanism is needed for monitoring and improvement, and said that herbal conservation is not possible without a clear division of responsibilities between the local government, forest office and community forest. Mel Bahadur Shahi, president of the Forest Consumers Federation Mugu, said that although there is a large market potential for Himalayan herbs, the expected benefits have not been realized due to lack of processing and value addition. Himalayan herbs can be a strong foundation for Nepal’s economic prosperity, but the sector is neglected due to the lack of policy, investment and market certainty.
