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Preparing for harvesting ‘Cashy fruit’ from 'Amla' trees


Participants of the meeting which includes representatives from government and Amla groups

At this time of the year, the Amla trees (Phyllanthus emblca) in the forest are laden with fruits. For members of eight farmers’ groups in the eastern Dzongkhags, it is not that round sour fruits but the tender notes hanging loosely from the Amla trees which can be plucked to derive maximum benefit to the beneficiaries. However, there are few set of ethics and codes to be adhered to in order to ensure that the golden goose is made to lay golden eggs.
Towards that, the 2 days Amla coordination meeting has been conducted involving the Coordinators from all farmers’ groups. The coordination meeting was convened from Monday 25th Oct to Tuesday, 26th Oct 2010. The coordination meeting has been called with the following objectives;
1) To come together CFM and NWFP groups who were/are engaged (existing) and who are going to be engaged (new groups) and all the stakeholders to share information and keep updated and have common understanding on NWFP/Amla value chain development,
2) To update Amla value chain activities in the last season, problems and prospects
3) To discuss and understand possible problems/concerns of NWFP/Amla activity faced by CFM and NWFP groups and link up to support organizations,
4) Prepare, both CFM and NWFP groups as well as relevant stakeholders for collection, processing and marketing of amla and other NWFPs by making an activity plan that covers the entire gamut of activities of the whole season including coming up with timeline of each activity, stakeholder support, etc.

The presentations were made on Farmers group/Cooperatives movement and CFM/NWFP groups introducing the group members superficially on Cooperative Act of Bhutan (amendment) 2009.  The participants were provided updates on Amla value chain development & discussions on how to move ahead. Mr. Tshewang Dorji,  representative from Social Forestry Division, Department of Forests & Park Services highlighted on NWFP royalties and permits. Following him, the Dzongkhag Forestry Sectors of Mongar and Lhuentse shared the prospects and plans for commercialization of other NWFPs inside the Community Forest.

What are the relevancy of the National Post Harvest Centre at Paro and its innovation of drying technology in regard to NWFP/Amla drying? This has been cleared with the presentation by Mr. Thinley Wangdi and Kinley Wangmo who attended the coordination meeting representing the mentioned organization. The modus operandi for collection and processing has also been comprehensively presented by SNV. Contemplating of appraising for the grants in order to strength the infrastructural capacity of the group? The Project Facilitation Office, Khangma is the office to approach. This has been revealed to the participants with PFO office emphasizing on Grant Scheme and prospects to CFM/NWFP groups.

The two day meeting also saw the discussions on community supports needs and stakeholders’ coordination besides updates on NWFP/Amla researches carried out RNR-RDC, Wengkhar. In order to assess the market viability, amla demand assessment was conducted by SNV, report of which has been revealed to the participants in order to boost the urge to produce more amla fruits to enhance their inceom generation.

Later part of the second day saw inventorying of what needs to be done for the 2010-2011 Amla season and formulation of NWFP/Amla activity plan for all eights groups. This activity plan will guide the harvesting and marketing of Amla fruits by the groups for this impending season. The meeting brought together in one table, all the stakeholders such as RAMCO, Mongar, SNV, Thimphu, SFD, Thimphu, DzFS, Mongar and Lhuentse, PFO, Khangma, RNR-RDC, Wengkhar and coordinators of all eight farmers’ groups involved in harnessing benefits from Amla fruits.
The coordination meeting was conducted by RAMCO, Mongar with financial support of SNV, Thimphu.

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