David Molden, Director General of ICIMOD, and Harish Chilwal, Project Coordinator of the Environment Conservation and Development Forum (ECDF), jointly launched two publications – Package of Practices for Promoting Climate Resilient Cardamom Value Chains in Nepal, and Farmers’ Handbook on Climate Resilient Technologies for Sustainable Production of Cardamom –  at the Sixth Nepal International Trade Fair in Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu, on 17 March 2017.

The launch of the publications was part of the soft launch of brand Himalica– Green Products from the Mountains at the trade fair, which received over 200,000 visitors over a five-day period (16-20 March 2017).

Underscoring the need to expand the markets for large cardamom at the book launch, Molden said, “The mountains of Nepal have jewels like large cardamom. However, the large cardamom produced in Nepal makes its way back to the country as an import from India. Wouldn’t it be fantastic if the large cardamom from eastern Nepal reached Nepali consumers and Gulf countries more directly? It makes me proud to work with SABAH Nepal, which has begun marketing black cardamom from Taplejung, and fresh and healthy vegetables from Udayapur under the newly launched brand HIMALICA.”

Robin Amatya, CEO of SABAH Nepal, said, “The soft launch of brand HIMALICA is just a start. As a partner of ICIMOD, we at SABAH Nepal got the opportunity to travel to different districts in Nepal. We are not only exploring new markets for brand HIMALICA products, but also helping with the transfer of technologies used in cardamom value chain development from eastern to far western Nepal. We are also connecting the cardamom-based products of Taplejung with Jhapa and other urban centres in Nepal. We really appreciate ICIMOD for supporting and believing in SABAH Nepal.”

In closing, Anu Joshi Shrestha, Value Chain and Enterprise Development Specialist at ICIMOD, said, “Brand HIMALICA is of, and for mountain people, and has been designed to build the livelihood resilience of poor and vulnerable mountain communities of the Hindu Kush Himalaya.”

The Package of Practices (PoP), available in English, provides detailed information on practices and technologies to support local implementing partners including non-governmental organizations, vocational training institutions, research and academic institutions, and community-based organizations to implement pilot activities aimed at making the cardamom value chain climate resilient.  The Farmer’s Handbook, available in Nepali, is aimed squarely at large cardamom farmers in Nepal.

Both the publications were produced by the Himalica programme funded by the European Union and managed by ICIMOD.

You can download the PoP (English) from http://lib.icimod.org/record/32534 and the Farmers’ Handbook (Nepali) from http://lib.icimod.org/record/32374 .

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