This presentation discusses the domestication of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) in Nepal. It begins with introducing NTFPs and defining domestication. The objectives are then stated as assessing opportunities and challenges of NTFP domestication. Methodology describes using secondary data sources. Opportunities discussed include Nepal's biodiversity, the growing international NTFP market, and potential for conservation and income generation. Challenges include technical difficulties in cultivation, lack of market infrastructure and support, as well as social, economic and policy barriers. The conclusion recognizes domestication potential but also threats to some NTFP species. Recommendations suggest providing financial and technical support to farmers for large-scale domestication, and improving

1. Presenter
DiveshShrestha
Rollno:6
M.Sc.Forestry

2. Outline of the Presentation
1. Introduction
2. Objective
3. Methodology
4. Finding and Discussion
5. Conclusion
6. Recommendation
7. References

3. Introduction
 NTFPs are all goods and services derived from forests of
both plant and animal origin other than timber and fuelwood.
It embraces products such as leaves, shoots, bark, flowers,
cottons, tannin, gum, resin, fruits, seed, juice and
roots.(Amatya, S.M.,2016)
 FAO defines NTFP, “as all goods of biological origin as well
as service derived from forest or any land under similar use
and exclude woods in all its form.”
 Domestication is the act and process of converting plants or
animals to household use. It means moving an organism
from its natural habitat and introducing it to a modified
habitat.
 Leaky and Newton (1994) define Domestication as a human
induced change in the genetics of a plant, to adopt it to
human agro-ecosystem.

4.  Domestication is generally considered to be the end point of
continuum that starts with exploitation of wild plants, continues
through cultivation of plants selected from the wild and ends
with the adaption to the agro-ecology through conscious or
unconscious human morphological selection and hence genetic
difference distinguishing the domesticated species from its wild
progenitor.
 A few community forest user groups have cultivated some NTFPs
species (like Amriso, Kurilo, Timur, Tejpat, etc ) to generate
income for their household needs but this is just emerging and not
well practiced.
Domestication of NTFP can be discussed as :
• Change from Uncontrolled utilization of wild NTFP to their controlled
exploitation
• Purposeful cultivation of Wild NTFPs in either resource enriched
natural environment or indigenous agroforestry system such as forest
garden
• Manipulation of its morphological and genetic characteristics.
Introduction cont….

5. Objective
The objective is to assess the Opportunity and
challenges of domestication of NTFPs.

6. Methodology & Materials
Methodology
secondary data
- Different literatures ,journals & thesis
reports
- Other related materials from different
sources

7. Finding & Discussion
Opportunities
• Nepal is rich in biodiversity, it harbors 3.2% of world flora and 284
flowering plant species are endemic (GON/MoFSC, 2014). More
than 1624 species are reported for medicinal properties in Nepal
(GON/MoFSC,2002).
• The international market of NTFP is growing at the rate of 15% per
year and in Nepal NTFPs contributes 5% of the total contribution
of forestry to the national economy. (Ghimire et al., 2008)
• In Nepal IUCN listed Nardostachys grandiflora (Jatamaasi) as
Vulnerable, Rauwolfia serpentine (Sarpagandha) and Michelia
champaca (Champ) as Endangered and Acacia catechu as
Threatened. (Amatya, S.M.,2016).Many species are in the stage of
the depletion so Domestication may be most plausible way to
conserve endangered species.

8. Finding & Discussion cont…
• The existing forest law also gives the permission without
deteriorating the condition of the forest. GON prioritized 13
different species for cultivation and research.
• It provides an opportunity to increase income per unit of land
thereby alleviating poverty and reducing land degradation in hills
and mountain areas.
• People can generate cash income from the sales of
domesticated NTFPs providing an employment opportunity,
without inflicting damage upon forest resources. In Baitadi
district 39% of the economically active population collected a
total of 24 NTFPs from 23 species, which contributed upto 90%
of the total household income. (Bista, S., & Webb, E. L. ,2006)
• Domestication could contribute to biodiversity conservation by
reducing pressures for the exploitation of natural resources.

9. Finding & Discussion cont…
Challenges
1. Technical
• Low germination percent and long dormancy period in Nursery.
• Majority of farmers lack marketing information, knowledge and skill on
cultivation of NTFPs.
• Lack of marketing infrastructure (e.g. drying and storage facilities,
transportation and quality testing facilities).
• Loss during transportation (about 8-10% of the weight is lost chiraito is
over dried and leaves bark away from the bundles thus lowering the
quality).
• White grubs, root rot and damping off symptoms seen as major
problems during seedling stage of NTFP like chiraito.
2. Economical
• Absence of wholesale market followed by controlled price formation and
high price fluctuation.
• Lack of branding, certification and recognized standards for farmers
products.

10. Finding & Discussion cont…
3. Social
• Livestock grazing and wildlife damage posses a great threat
among farmers interested in domestication of NTFPs.
4. Policy related challenges
• When judged against the impact of the forest legislation on
NTFPs collectors and conservation, the national policy objectives
do not seem to be properly translated into regulation.
• Collection permits, bans, and lack of knowledge of law are
contributing to increased rent seeking.
• Royalty payment, taxes, and transport permit are not effectively
implemented.

11. Conclusion
• Domestication is evolutionary process whereby a wild population of
plants becomes accustomed to human provision and control.
• The Domestication of NTFPs can contribute to national economy
and plays important role to alleviate poverty, to raise people’s
incomes, to provide food security and also promote biodiversity
conservation by reducing the pressure of NTFPs on the natural
forests.
• Over exploitation of some high value NTFPs has threatened some
of these species with extinction.
• The regulations pertaining to NTFPs are still based on restrictive
policy. Producing and selling forest products including NTFPs is
difficult and the entrepreneurs and traders are not adequately
encouraged in growing and marketing of forest products from
privately controlled land.

12. Recommendation
• Financial and technical supports should be provided to farmer for
domestication of NTFPs in large scale.
• There is an urgent need to develop agro-technology for the
domestication of wild NTFP, especially those species which are
exploited heavily and market management including
establishment of a network of producers, collectors and traders.
• Develop infrastructure including conducting research and
extension program and adding values to herbs through
processing.
• Strong policy and punishment should formulated for controlling
the over exploitation and inappropriate collection and harvesting
of the available resources.

13. Reference
• Amatya, S.M. and Shrestha K.R. and Cedamon, E. 2016 Nepal Forestry
Handbook, Kathmandu, Nepal.
• ANSAB, 2010. Participatory Inventory of Non-Timber Forest Products. Asia
Network for Sustainable Agriculture and Bio-resources. Kathmandu
Nepal.
• Bista, S., & Webb, E. L. (2006). Collection and marketing of non-timber forest
products in the far western hills of Nepal. Environmental
Conservation, 33(3), 244-255.
• FAO, 2010. Global forest resource assessment 2010. FAO Forestry paper
No. 163. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome,
Italy.
• Ghimire,S.K., D. Pyakurel, B. Nepal, I.B. Sapkota, R.R. Parajuli and B.R. Oli (2008a):
A Manual of NTFPs of Nepal Himalaya (Gair Kasta Ban Paidawar Digdarsan,
in Nepal). WWF Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal

14. Reference
• Leakey, R. R. B., Temu, A. B., Melnyk, M., & Vantomme, P. (1996). Domestication
and commercialization of non-timber forest products. Non-Wood Forest
Products Series, 9.
• Nepal, N. B. S. A. P. (2002). Nepal Biodiversity Strategy. Nepal: Ministry of
Forests and Soil Conservation, His Majesty’s Government of Nepal.
• Nepal, N. B. S. A. P. (2014). Nepal Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. Nepal:
Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation, His Majesty’s Government of
Nepal.

15. Any queries, suggestions
are heartily welcome......