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A case of a vulnerable group harvesting non-timber forest product and accessing food

Background: Saptari district (administrative unit in Nepal) of Nepal is rich in variety of tropical forest products. For a

long time, people of Saptari have been using these forest products for various purposes. Over the last

decades it has been facing severe deforestation problems and consequent damage to the natural resources

particularly in the foothills of Churia hills.

Traditionally the landless people living in the Churia foothills, who represent the target group of

Rural Community Infrastructure Work (RCIW) programme, earn their living either by selling

labour in landowners' farms or by selling fuel wood. Excess collection of fuelwood for sale

from nearby forest for decades had increased deforestation in the area, leading to increased soil

erosion, aggradations of the riverbeds and consequent flood problems. Community forest user

group (CFUG) of Behra Chhap, a group affected by seasonal flood and draught initiated to

address the problem at the micro-level by cultivating Babiyo grass (Eulaliopsis binata) to

conserve the soil as well as to make income from the grass, thereby improving livelihoods.

This case study attempts to explain the success story of Behra Chhap CFUG (community forest

users group)on how they have benefited from the

Babiyo grass is a resilient grass species,

indigenous to the southern foothills of the

Himalaya. It is mainly used for paper

production in small paper mills and rope

making. Besides this it is also used for

thatched roofing, fencing and handicrafts

making. The grass is twisted by hand and foot

to make rope. Therefore, in addition to the

production of Babio as raw material, it also

provides an opportunity for engagement in

rope making skill.

Project Support: RCIW is operating in the district since 1997, the aim of the collaborative

efforts of RCIW programme and Department of Soil Conservation and

Watershed Management (DSCWM) is to improve the socio-economic

conditions of beneficiaries on the one hand and to check deforestation and

soil erosion, on the other.

Upon the initiation of the CFUG, the project has worked as a partner with

the CFUG to promote cultivation of Babiyo grass. There are 33 households

in Behra Chhap CFUG. Of the total households, 86 % are Dalits

(occupational caste group) and remaining households are Brahmins and

Chhetri (higher caste). The CFUG was founded in 1995. Cooperation with

RCIW/DSCWM started in 2000 with a project of Babiyo plantation.

To start the cultivation of Babiyo, small plants were collected from mostly depleted forests of

the Churia foothills. They were planted into different beds prepared within barren lands of

community forest. These forests are often bare and do not have enough ground cover to prevent

soil erosion. A total of 4 ha were planted with Babiyo plants in the beginning. Within three

years, the area under Babiyo cultivation has increased to 7 ha.

The programme paid rice for the user group members to compensate part of the labour cost they

provided for planting Babiyo. Each member of the group received 4 kg rice per labour day plus cash at

the rate of NRs1/kg of rice. The cash part was contributed by Jandol VDC as per the programme policy.

Display of project board

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New innovation of Babiyo farming for income generation has changed the motivation of CFUG

members. Efforts to stabilize gullies have been initiated by planting over 600 bamboo suckers. Some of

these seedlings were provided by the German Development Service (DED) while some were collected

from nearby forest.

WFP: World Food program

MLD: Ministry of Local Development

DSCO: District Soil Conservation Office

VDC: Village Development Council

UG: Users Group

Photo: Food Distribution to the beneficiaries

Benefits of the Project: � Preparing beds for the Babiyo plants and promoting cultivation of Babiyo has improved the

condition of the degraded forest as well as the economy of CFUG members.

� With the introduction of Babiyo as a new source of income generation, the food security

situation of the poor and landless households has improved.

� The Babiyo grass can be cut twice a year in the plantations without harming the plants, therefore

it is providing income to the poor at regular intervals.

� Due to strong soil holding capacity of bamboo's roots, there have been some effects on soil

conservation in the bamboo planted area. It is expected that in two years, these seedlings will be

matured enough to produce the needed construction material, which can substitute demand for

timber that are collected from the local forest. The ultimate benefit from increased availability of

bamboo would be reduced pressure of the people on local forest for fuelwood and timber.

� Besides Babiyo plantations on the community forest, fruit trees like mango, banana and litchi

have also been planted.

� Last year the group has also grown ginger, turmeric and oal in approximately 1 ha with support

from GTZ/IFSP (Integrated Food Security project) project. Production and income from the

cultivation of these cash crops has contributed to improve the nutrition status the CFUG

members. Besides home consumption, marketable surplus were sold at local markets. The group

has prepared beds for the plants, which is across the slope so as to prevent water and soil

erosion.

The following table shows the status of income earned by the group from June 2002-May 2003

Table: Status of production and income from community forest in 2002/03

Crops

Production

(kg)

Market price

(NRs/kg)

Total profit

possible

Babiyo 6400 4 25600

Babiyo rope 6400 28 179200

Ool 300 50 15000

Ginger 125 40 5000

Total Project costs: NRs 294,478

a) WFP Rice consumed : 10.5 MT equivalent to NRs157,500

b) MLD cash for Rice Transportation: NRs11,000

c) DSCO cash for construction material NRs 94,478

d) VDC contribution for unskilled labour NRs

e) UG contribution NRs. 31,500

USD 74=nepali rupee 1

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Turmeric 350 30 10500

Note: Two prices are used for Babiyo: the price for the raw product and the price for the processed

Babiyo rope.

The forest nurtured by the CFUG has been developed into a multi-layer tree and grass species. On the

bottom, vegetables and Babiyo have been grown, on the mid part, bamboo and bananas have been grown

and on the top valuable forest tree-species and fruit trees have been grown. The different root systems of

these plants also provide a very effective soil protection as some are shallow rooted, some are medium

and others are deep rooted plant species.

Future Extension: In next few years, the CFUG has planned to increase the area under Babiyo cultivation to 10 ha, which

will be almost one third of the total area (i.e. 31.5 ha) managed by the CFUG. The CFUG has also

planned to cultivate Kurilo (Sitaweri, Asparagus racemosus), a medicinal plant that can be sold for

around 160 NRs/kg at local markets. DED is interested to support this crop as a new source of income

for the members of CFUG.

Operation and Maintenance: GTZ-IFSP supported a local NGO Mahuli Community Development Committee (MCDC),

which is providing social

mobilization support to the group

for the last two years. After some

training related to O and M from

the MCDC, the group members

has made a plan for operation and

maintenance. A female

chairperson is now taking care of

the business affairs of the Behra

Chhap CFUG.

Ms. Devi Sardar, Chairperson

(see inset) "The motivation of the group has also strengthened. We would like to improve and

extent our plantation and also try something new in the coming season."

The profits are partly invested in a savings and credit programme, which was initiated by RCIW and is

supervised by MCDC. Meetings of the savings and credit takes place fortnightly where new plans and

problems are also discussed. The savings activities have been functional. Up to now, over NRs 54,000

have been saved by the members on a group account. Of the total amount, nearly NRs 19,000 have been

invested among members for income generating activities and for meeting emergency needs of

members. Availability of credit from ones own group has reduced dependency of the members on

moneylenders for loan.

Lesson:

As it is shown from the example of

the Behra Chhap CFUG in Saptari

district, the natural regeneration of

raw materials from the community

forest can become a main income

sources for majority of poor low

caste people. The group members

are optimistic to improve their

livelihoods from the sustainable

management of high value plant

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resources. It is expected that vulnerability of the CFUG members will decrease because of improved

income and natural resource base.