Training-cum Farmers Group formation on Non-wood Forest products (NWFPs)

The members of Lekpachu Shingmen Namrup Tshogpa

The Amla (phyllanthus emblica) grew in abundance in Government Reserved Forest areas falling within the jurisdiction of Minjay and Menbi gewogs under Lhuentse Dzongkhag. As of now, the fruit that makes the water taste like a sweet tea fed more of monkeys than helping generate income for the adjacent communities. Dasho Tsheten Dorji, the former Zhung Dronyer, currently the resident of Chusa village in Minjay knew that there is an avenue for the people to better utilize the lemon grass rather than letting it serve its demonic purpose of being primary cause of forest fire in winter. He has witnessed wild fire rage almost every couple of years due to the high inflammability of its dry biomass. Similarly, there are many Non-wood forest products such as wild asparagus, rubia cordifolia and xynthoxylem within the vicinity of the villages which are more of wasted requiring appropriate intervention from the government.

The Dzongkhag Forestry sector encouraged by the abundance of such non-wood products initially put up the proposal seeking budget from the SNV. Accordingly, SNV representative visited the Dzongkhag to discuss with the Dzongkhag administration for which Dasho Dzongdag promised full support and appreciated the noble ideas and directed to immediately execute the activity. The inventory of the stocks was also carried out before actually forming the group by the Dzongkhag Forestry staff. The inventory was done by physically visiting the potential area and assessing the stock in the field. 

Convinced that there is an adequate potential, the Dzongkhag Forestry sector, Lhuentse in collaboration with SNV-Bhutan Program and Social Forestry Division initiated NWFPs group formation for Minjay and Menbi gewogs. The total beneficiaries include 71 households from two gewogs. They were imparted adequate training before hand encompassing components of NWFP collection framework, responsibilities of different agencies, listing of NWFP species within the Community boundary, resource mapping, concepts of group formation and marketing channel. The training was conducted for 3 days each culmination of which was the formation of NWFP group.
During the training, the harvesting guidelines were also formulated, the overall group objectives were set, the strategies on financial managements, benefit sharing, conflict management, fines and penalties were also deliberated, discussed and debated after which the consensus has been reached. This information will be reflected in the NWFP management plan which will be valid for next three years. In order to ensure the sustainability and proper functioning of the groups, the appropriate by-law has also been framed.      
The training was also attended by the staff representatives from Dzonkhag Forestry Sector, Territorial Range office, Forest Management Unit and Thrumshingla Park service. The total staff inclusive of all the offices afore-mentioned came to atleast 14 excluding two facilitators.

Pema Choden, the group coordinator of the Lekpachu Shingmen Namdrel Tshogpa said that she is very excited with such idea. She expressed her regret of not having realized that such products would generate such immense benefits. Forest to her was merely a tree rather than having such huge potential for money-making.
The training-cum group formation was facilitated by Mr. Tshewang Dorji, SFD, Thimphu and Mr. Tshering Phuntsho, SNV, Thimphu. The activity was conducted under the sponsor of SNV, Thimphu.