Access to and Benefit Sharing From Swertia Chirayita: Case From Yamphudin, Kangchenjunga Conservation Area, Nepal

Abstract

Keywords: ABS; bitterness; cultivation; Swertia chirayita; soil; trade. Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) is provision under Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) that governs access to genetic resources and how benefits arising from their use are shared. Draft ABS law has been prepared in Nepal which is still being debated and waiting for promulgation.

Chiraito (Swertia chirayita) is bitter plant possessing multipurpose medicinal uses categorized as vulnerable by Shrestha and Joshi (1996). Commercial cultivation of S. chirayita has been practiced in the study area between 1800 to 2800 masl. S. chirayita favors north facing slopes, sandy soil rich in organic matter with pH 4.5 to 5.5. S. chirayita was observed on slopes ranging from 5 0 to 70 0 .

Questionnaire survey was conducted to generate primary data while literatures were reviewed to gather secondary information. Stratified sampling was used for the ecological study of S. chirayita. Soil parameters and bitter principle were analyzed in the laboratory.

Cultivated S. chirayita showed high density and accordingly high productivity. Bitter principle showed high value in S. chirayita collected from wild. However, student t-test showed no significant difference in bitter principle between wild and cultivated S. chirayita. Mostly positive correlation was observed between soil parameters and bitter principle.

About 30 percent of the household expense was found to be fulfilled from income generated from the trade of S. chirayita. Common household use of S. chirayita observed among different ethnic groups was to cure fever, cough, headache, cold, and throat problem. Market survey showed no adulteration on S. chirayita during trade. However, trader reported occurrence of such cases sometimes by mixing chiraito of inferior quality called as bhale chiraito.

Different royalty system exists in the study area for S. chirayita harvested from national forest/wild and that from private land. Harvesters have to obtain collection permit from KCA office to harvest S. chirayita from wild. Cultivation on private land showed higher income

XV than collecting from wild. Owing more land, rich people have more access to commercial cultivation of S. chirayita. Current status of local level value addition was confined to sun drying after harvest. Both legal and illegal trade network was noted form the area. Legally 3757 kg and illegally 1429 kg of S. chirayita have been estimated to be exported annually from the study area.

Nine NTFPs were found exported to Tibet from Taplejung. Due to lack of custom office at the border and relatively attractive price in Tibet market, trade of NTFPs towards Tibet has been reported to be increasing though in slow pace.

Harvesting of S. chirayita only after the seeds get mature and fall to the ground is recommended. Formation of market co-operatives and establishment of Jadibuti mandi should be initiated by KCAP. Appropriate and effective cultivation methods of high valued MAPs feasible to that agro-climatic zone should be initiated through establishing demonstration plot.