Browsing by Author "Bhattarai, Pramod"
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item Ethnobotanical Use of Wetland Resources and their Role in Local Livelihood (A Case Study from Beeshazar Lake of Chitwan District)(Faculty of Sociology, 2013) Bhattarai, PramodEthnobotany is the study of how people of a particular culture and region make use of indigenous plants. Field ethnobotany is the observation of the human-plant relationship in places where it is visible and may be either experienced and/or documented, in stories and images. Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems in the world. They arevery important in terms of their ecological, economic, cultural and recreational domains of livelihood. Wetlands also support people’s livelihood, or a means of earning for living. Often poor and some ethnic communities in rural areas, are directly dependent on wetlands for their socio-economic or cultural association. The study entitled “Ethnobotanical Use of Wetland Resources and their Role in Local Livelihood” was conducted in wetland sites Beeshazar Lake and its surrounding community; the study was focused to access the ethnobotanical use and community’s dependency on the wetland resources. The questionnaire survey was conducted on 30%of total households in surrounding community, which mainly comprised ethnic groups in the area who had close association with the use of wetland resources. 30 female and 35 male were interviewed followed by focus group discussions, key informant surveys and direct observations. In this study area, total 133 species of 52 families were identified; out of which habit/plant type of 58 species were trees, 19 species were shrubs, 36 species were herbs,3 species were grass and 17 species were climbers. Based on site condition, 10 species were dependent on wet regions of the wetland, 96 species on moist land and 27 on dry site condition. Among the communities, Tharu and indigenous group adjacent to the Beeshazar lake has close association with the use of the resources. Ten major types of species, having socio-cultural importance were Pipal, Bar, Bel, Sal, Aanp, Dhaturo,Aank, Tulsi, Dubo and Bayar. Among the highly collected edible resources; mushrooms(4 Species), Dryopteris cochleata (locally called as neuro), Spinach and Bamboo shoots make a good seasonal income to the local people.Local people make as much as NRs 20,000 per season by selling these mushrooms and fern. Amala, Harro and Barro,Asparagus and Sashra Buti were identified as a major contributor to household medicines. Local community forest user group is generating more than Rs.19,42,468/year by selling wetland resources and using this cash for local development,skill development of community people, women empowerment, community forest office management, wetland resource conservation and management.Item Livelihood Strategy of Bote People: A case of Bote Community of Patihani VDC, Chitwan(Department of Rural Development, 2010) Bhattarai, PramodThis Thesis on the ‘Livelihood strategy of Bote people’ was conducted in Patihani VDC of Chitwan District. The study is focused on the marginalized ethnic group of Bote people and explores livelihood patterns of Bote community of Nepal. Conceptually livelihood connotes the means of activities entitlements and assets by which people make a living. It is related with both agriculture and non-agriculture sectors. The sources of livelihood of rural people are mainly threw cash crops, horticulture, animal husbandry, dairy, poultry, piggery, fishery, organic farming- vermin compost, handicrafts, rural artisans, and non-timber forest products etc. which are also followed by the Bote people of the study area. Dependence on wage labour, mostly of the unskilled and underpaid variety, is another important source of livelihood for majority of Botes in the study area. Bote unskilled labours migrate to the urban center for wage labour especially during lean agricultural periods. Botes have lots of hardship and drudgery in their livelihood earning. Research in Bote Tole of Patihani shows that historically people had their livelihood from agriculture based activities. Land was a major household asset and crop production (Maize, millet, paddy, wheat etc) was the means of survival. But rapid urbanization and globalization pushed them in the transition providing both opportunities and constraints. The household assets have undergone rapid modification. Now they have no option other than modifying the traditional occupation. Land fragmentation, change in social institution, resulted from the urbanization and globalization. The livelihood diversification and introducing of foreign employment have recently emerged livelihood strategies of the people in the study area. Due to the proximity to the market, the influence of the urbanization is more apparent in the Bote Village. In the study area most of the households follow the multiple occupations besides agriculture. The role of agriculture activities in their life is substantial. Although a few households sell their crops, most of them sell the vegetable. The livelihood strategy of Bote community in the study area is in transition. It shifted from agriculture to non-agricultural one. The household assets of this community have greatly influenced the process of adaptation of new strategy or modification of traditional occupation. Economic development and other economic activities change the surrounding environment of the people of a particular area have to change their way of life to adopt with the changing environment. Livelihood difficulty reflects on unprofitable farming activities or un-remunerative employment, which may not even allow the poor family to meet their basic needs. So, it is inevitable to identify and disseminate the effective livelihood strategy, especially, for the improvement of livelihood of Botes. It is necessary to ensure access to resources and increase social and political participation of Bote community for integral development of rural community in Nepal.