HIMALI Field Experience in the Mustang Region of Nepal

• 1. Experience in Mustang 29th Sep, 2013- Gokarna Devkota

2. Outlines of this Presentation: About Mustang District Challenges in Work Accomplished Activities Opportunities for Work Lessons Learned from Work Further Expectations Some Pictures 3. About the Mustang District - Lies in Dahulagiri zone covering an area 3,573 km - Jomsom (among 16 VDCs) is the Headquarter - Main occupations: Tourism, Agriculture and Livestock. Main caste: Thakali, BhoteGurung, Bista, Dalit (some) Total population: 13452 (Male: 7093, Female: 6359) (Buddhist: 8095, Hindu: 5040), HH size: 4.01, Population increase rate: -1.08, HH head- Male: 2557, Female: 797 4. Challenges in work Finding Accommodation: Tourist hotels easily available but expensive, Separate rooms not availableCommunication with GoV Institutions: Officials are cooperative, easy to collect information, required regular communication with them, As a remote district- all officials are not regularly available in their desk Working with DPC/DLSO: Mr. Guru Prasad KhakuralCooperative, Easy to get information about the field, Quite difficult on managing transportations Establishing office: Took more time to fix the building, Budgets for furnishing are yet to release, 5. Challenges in work Meeting LRP's: One among two LRP has not been met yet, Proposals from the Entrepreneurs are not smoothly made because of Non-technical LRP- which leads to absence of business plan Meeting and working with DAES: We share the office, work together, share each other Meeting with DCCI: DCCI are cooperative but allocate limited time as they are busy in their own business Meeting first clients: People were reluctant to initiate their plan initially, they are exited once they got more information 6. Challenges in work Other: Mukhiya system does not allow excluded group (women, so called Dalit) to participate in meetings, Several opportunities (Agrifood, livestock, MPAs)are there but people focus on goat raising Limited technical knowledge on prioritized area like infrastructuretunnel, argo-tourism, home stay etc. Micro entrepreneurs perceived HIMALI is only for those who have investment capacity People are interested to prepare business plan but reluctant to collect supporting documents Local transportation available but lack sufficient transportation fund 7. Accomplished Activities Office Establishment- Space fixed, Furniture ordered, Computer received, Internet and telephone yet to install Meeting DLSO, DADO, DCCI, DCI, ACAP and other stockholders held for the need assessment and working possibility, Regular meeting with DPC, DAES and LRPs for the coordination in business plan, proposal writing. 5 businesses are under implementation, 4 have been forwarded to regional office for the correction, some other are under process to propose 8. Accomplished Activities Information sessions in Jomsom, Marpha, Tukuche, Kobang, Lete, Kunju, Kagbeni, Muktinath, Chhusang have been held including awareness program about business plan, value chain, marketing etc. Interested groups, DAGs, Women groups were dealt accordingly Marketing activities of HIMALI (Brochure distribution, counceling people) were done in Agro food and livestock trade fair in Lete-4, Ghansa (1-4 Ashwin, 2017) through a separate stall by HIMALI 9. Accomplished Activities HIMALI supported MuktiNath Multi Purposive Cooperative became first in juice production (Tora Juice) and own the prize in Agro food and livestock trade fair Ongoing HIMALI supported activities (Rainbow troutfishery- raceway construction- Ghansa, cow farming , Dairy building construction Syang, Tora Juicde production- Jharkot, Apple nursery- Tukuche were monitored 10. Opportunities for work Establish value chain of Buckwheat-Phapar with in the district Promote agro tourism Collaborate with Pashmina industries and promote Chyangra farming 11. Lessons Learned Learned working environment among multiple actors like ACI, AEC, DLSO working environment with different level of stakeholders 12. Further Expectations Regular monitoring and evaluation Capacity building trainings to staffs for the technical knowledge Sufficient and timely financial support while working in the field Community people expect project agreement activities with in the district rather than visiting Kathmandu Provision the dead line of specific activities to the entrepreneurs and release the installment accordingly 13. Some clipsRecently Established OfficeMeeting with DPC and DAES 14. Some clipsInformation session (HIMALI) to community people 15. Some clipsHIMALI participation during DLSO activities 16. Some clipsPreparing HIMALI stall during the Agrifood and Livestock Trade Fair Ghasa, MustangFirst prize winner women cooperative group (HIMALI Supported) Agrifood and Livestock Trade Fair Ghasa, Mustang 17. Some clipsHIMALI supported Dairy building constructionHIMALI supported Tora Juice building construction 18. Some clipsHIMALI supported Cow FarmingHIMALI supported Rainbow Trout Fishery 19. Some clipsHIMALI supported Apple NurseryHIMALI supported Tora Juice 20. Thank You