The following article was also written for our magazine to promote the work of a local conservation NGO
Cultivating an economy of sustainability
The economy on the Kullu Valley has two major drivers; agriculture and tourism. Over time agricultural practices have changed dramatically. Subsistence farming has been pushed aside to accommodate cash crops such as apples and cherries. In the past, local nutritious food staples such as red rice and kodra, a grain similar to barley which produces a rich brown flour, are now only brought out for special occasions as more and more land is developed for crops with a higher economic yield. From any viewpoint along the valley you will see terraced slopes, originally created for rice and grain production now supporting acres upon acres of fruit orchards. Contemplating how local crops and their place in the local diet are being lost, some would argue that it is a false approach to economy to put all your seeds into a fruit basket to raise money to spend on imported food products of lower nutritional value than those previously grown on your doorstep.
There are those in the valley working towards maintaining and supporting traditional agricultural pursuits and establishing a balance between protecting the rich variety of local flora whilst ensuring the economic security of those dependent on it for their livelihood. A good case example is the pioneering work done by Biolaya Organics, a small local company, into medicinal herb conservation. The company formed in 2007 following on from the three years of research done by the same group previously named the Seyhog Research Group and are based at Dashal village close to Naggar.
To those like myself, not so familiar with horticultural issues, it is worth pointing out that the definition of a herb stretches much wider than those small fragrant plants which we occasionally try to spice up our cooking with, but can cover any plant, tree or root which can be put to a medicinal or culinary use. In India especially, there is a rich tradition of herbal medicine, prevalent through the Ayurvedic system, which delivers natural treatments for many health conditions. Demand for alternative and complimentary treatment has also surged throughout the western world as people seek natural remedies for illnesses rather than relying on pharmaceutical interventions and has led to a huge market growth in this area.
The Western Himalayas is a hot-spot for rare and valuable medicinal herbs but unsustainable harvesting and trading practices have led to many species becoming endangered. Biolaya has been working steadfastly to conserve these unique plants through a multi-factor approach of attempting large scale cultivation of endangered species to negate the need for wild collection alongside promoting the sustainable collection and value addition of alternative herb species and other non-timber forest products which grow in abundance. Combine this with research and documentation of indigenous herb species and their properties, the delivery of educational programmes for collectors, farmers and consumers on herb conservation, organic farming and wider biodiversity issues and you start to get a picture of the wide ranging contribution this grass roots organization is working to impact locally.
One of the main difficulties facing Biolaya is the challenge of cultivating herbs in a way to produce a viable livelihood for those involved in their harvesting. The additional costs added to cultivated crops, which require a three year growing cycle and full time staff versus the traditional collector whose product costs merely rests in the time taken roaming the hills to find the species, mean that cultivated herbs prices will be vastly inflated against those brought to market by wild collectors. The hope is that by establishing a mindset with consumers, that although sustainability comes as a higher price it ensures long term availability, a viable market can be created. In addition to this, the government has also taken steps to help conservation and endangered species have been banned for export unless they are produced with a ‘certificate of cultivation’ from the Forest Department; this presents opportunities in the export market where herb companies do not have legal access to the cheaper wild collected herbs. Organic certification further increases the value of the herbs in the export market.
New research and development into new uses of more common herbs such as wild oregano has a potentially huge role to play in conservation initiatives. The properties of the oregano’s essential oil as an antibacterial agent, which could plausibly be used in the wide scale prevention and treatment of bacterial infections such as MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), opens exciting new avenues and opportunities for income and conservation. If a feasible market can be created for this product, then local collectors can be employed to harvest this abundant herb and sustain their incomes whilst also negating their reliance on the collection of endangered species.
All of these initiatives remain in their preliminary stages and the outcomes as yet remain uncertain. Many years of hard work, dedication and patience have been invested by those pioneering this experiment into methods of conservation which represent a holistic approach, working with local people to encourage them to work towards the preservation of the natural wealth of their environment. Next year the results of the Biolaya Organics experiment should start to emerge and conclusions on the practicality of their initiatives can be drawn. Successful or not their work demonstrates a valuable lesson on how conservation can be pursued in conjunction with local need and helps prove that conservation does not need to run counter to economic sustainability.
For more information about the work Biolaya is doing for local conservation see their website at www.biolaya.com.
Cultivating an economy of sustainability
The economy on the Kullu Valley has two major drivers; agriculture and tourism. Over time agricultural practices have changed dramatically. Subsistence farming has been pushed aside to accommodate cash crops such as apples and cherries. In the past, local nutritious food staples such as red rice and kodra, a grain similar to barley which produces a rich brown flour, are now only brought out for special occasions as more and more land is developed for crops with a higher economic yield. From any viewpoint along the valley you will see terraced slopes, originally created for rice and grain production now supporting acres upon acres of fruit orchards. Contemplating how local crops and their place in the local diet are being lost, some would argue that it is a false approach to economy to put all your seeds into a fruit basket to raise money to spend on imported food products of lower nutritional value than those previously grown on your doorstep.
There are those in the valley working towards maintaining and supporting traditional agricultural pursuits and establishing a balance between protecting the rich variety of local flora whilst ensuring the economic security of those dependent on it for their livelihood. A good case example is the pioneering work done by Biolaya Organics, a small local company, into medicinal herb conservation. The company formed in 2007 following on from the three years of research done by the same group previously named the Seyhog Research Group and are based at Dashal village close to Naggar.
To those like myself, not so familiar with horticultural issues, it is worth pointing out that the definition of a herb stretches much wider than those small fragrant plants which we occasionally try to spice up our cooking with, but can cover any plant, tree or root which can be put to a medicinal or culinary use. In India especially, there is a rich tradition of herbal medicine, prevalent through the Ayurvedic system, which delivers natural treatments for many health conditions. Demand for alternative and complimentary treatment has also surged throughout the western world as people seek natural remedies for illnesses rather than relying on pharmaceutical interventions and has led to a huge market growth in this area.
The Western Himalayas is a hot-spot for rare and valuable medicinal herbs but unsustainable harvesting and trading practices have led to many species becoming endangered. Biolaya has been working steadfastly to conserve these unique plants through a multi-factor approach of attempting large scale cultivation of endangered species to negate the need for wild collection alongside promoting the sustainable collection and value addition of alternative herb species and other non-timber forest products which grow in abundance. Combine this with research and documentation of indigenous herb species and their properties, the delivery of educational programmes for collectors, farmers and consumers on herb conservation, organic farming and wider biodiversity issues and you start to get a picture of the wide ranging contribution this grass roots organization is working to impact locally.
One of the main difficulties facing Biolaya is the challenge of cultivating herbs in a way to produce a viable livelihood for those involved in their harvesting. The additional costs added to cultivated crops, which require a three year growing cycle and full time staff versus the traditional collector whose product costs merely rests in the time taken roaming the hills to find the species, mean that cultivated herbs prices will be vastly inflated against those brought to market by wild collectors. The hope is that by establishing a mindset with consumers, that although sustainability comes as a higher price it ensures long term availability, a viable market can be created. In addition to this, the government has also taken steps to help conservation and endangered species have been banned for export unless they are produced with a ‘certificate of cultivation’ from the Forest Department; this presents opportunities in the export market where herb companies do not have legal access to the cheaper wild collected herbs. Organic certification further increases the value of the herbs in the export market.
New research and development into new uses of more common herbs such as wild oregano has a potentially huge role to play in conservation initiatives. The properties of the oregano’s essential oil as an antibacterial agent, which could plausibly be used in the wide scale prevention and treatment of bacterial infections such as MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), opens exciting new avenues and opportunities for income and conservation. If a feasible market can be created for this product, then local collectors can be employed to harvest this abundant herb and sustain their incomes whilst also negating their reliance on the collection of endangered species.
All of these initiatives remain in their preliminary stages and the outcomes as yet remain uncertain. Many years of hard work, dedication and patience have been invested by those pioneering this experiment into methods of conservation which represent a holistic approach, working with local people to encourage them to work towards the preservation of the natural wealth of their environment. Next year the results of the Biolaya Organics experiment should start to emerge and conclusions on the practicality of their initiatives can be drawn. Successful or not their work demonstrates a valuable lesson on how conservation can be pursued in conjunction with local need and helps prove that conservation does not need to run counter to economic sustainability.
For more information about the work Biolaya is doing for local conservation see their website at www.biolaya.com.
Comments