Gandaki. A community forest group here has given an example that if natural resources are properly utilized, opportunities can be created in the country. The Thotnekhola Community Forest Group based at Sarangkot of Pokhara Metropolitan City-18 has become an example for all by producing organic manure using grass, leaves and shrubs deposited in the forest.

Dinesh Shrestha, chairman of the group, said that preparations are being made to produce more than 35,000 kg of fertilizers this year and send it to the market for sale.

Stating that two kg packaging has been done for cowpea cultivation and 25 kg for five other agricultural purposes, he said, “In the initial stage, the rate of fertilizer of forest produce has been fixed at Rs 25 per kg and that of gadule fertilizer at Rs 40. Fertilizers are also being sold through enterprises. ’

Stating that more than One million rupees have been invested so far in the operation of organic fertilizer enterprise, which was started under the ‘One Forest One Production’ program, he said that rs 390,000 has been invested in the collection of forest produce alone.

“More than 7,000 people got employment by collecting about 3 million kg of forest produce set up at Andherikuna in the community forest area,” he said. The forest group has purchased green leaf at Rs 3 per kg and dried at Rs 5 per kg. The use of organic fertilizers will increase soil fertility and emphasize healthy organic production. ’

Shrestha believes that it will take 90 days to produce organic manure after collecting apples and grasses collected from the forest and making it small size by cutting it with modern machines.

The Gandaki State Government has certified that the necessary criteria have been fulfilled according to the report of the Agricultural Development Directorate Soil and Fertilizer Quality Testing Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Management. According to Prashant Shrestha, agriculture technician and member of the group, 8.1 percent of the fertilizer produced in the fertilizer produced is 8.1 percent, PH 6.2 percent, nitrogen 1.3 percent, phosphorus 0.5 percent, potassium 3.03 percent and carbon 25.34 percent.

According to him, the Kaski Division Forest Office has allocated Rs 450,000 for the construction of various necessary physical infrastructures while the Gandaki Watershed Climate Resilient Office has received Rs 350,000 for the operation of agriculture school.

Manure is being produced in the green plastic tunnel of Andherikuna. For this purpose, Leeward has provided materials including block, cement and packaging and sewing machine for the construction of necessary physical infrastructure, including 25,000 earthworms, he said.

A total of 192 households are currently consumers in the 86.75 hectares of land awarded by the Kaski Division Forest Office last year. The work of mobilizing the group’s consumers is now underway to collect fertilizers.

According to bishnu Kumal, a member of the group, those who worked throughout the day earned up to Rs 1,500 and housewives who came during leisure time earned at least Rs 500. The group has taken forward the fertilizer production work after conducting an on-site study of the organic fertilizer enterprise produced by Vinayi Community Forest Group based in Vinay Triveni Rural Municipality of Nawalpur district.

Chief of the District Coordination Committee, Liladhar Poudel, while conducting an on-site study of the fertilizer enterprise, expressed the belief that the enterprise would prove to be a milestone in employment generation and reducing the outbreak of fire due to the inflammable material stored in the forest area.

Stressing the need for all the three levels of government to support the enterprises that contribute to income generation by creating local employment through natural resources besides reducing the import of chemical fertilizers, he pointed out the need for other community forest groups to follow such activities. He stressed on the need to link natural resources with the prosperity of the country and its people by making full use of them.

Binayi Community Forest Group of Binay Triveni Rural Municipality in Nawalpur district of Gandaki State has been producing organic manure since the past. At present, 80 people have got employment in the industry adopted by the rural municipality in the recent past. Experts are of the view that the community forest users’ federation Nepal, an umbrella organization advocating for the rights of forest groups, should be linked to such enterprises with projects run with the support of various donor countries.