A medicinal herbs processing centre has been established in Dumre, Bhumlu rural municipality, providing a reliable source of income from forest resources for many people in Kavre, 30 kilometres southeast of Kathmandu.

The rural municipality launched the centre as a model project for processing herbs by constructing a dedicated facility.

The centre's primary objective is to produce medicinal goods using herbs found in local forests, transform the rural community into a hub for herb production, and connect farmers with herbal farming programmes, said Prem Bhujel, a ward chairman in the rural municipality.

Despite Nepal's rich herbal resources, the country has not fully capitalised on their health and economic benefits due to insufficient policy support and limited scientific research.

Bhujel said the centre has already started producing essential oil from titepati (Artemisia), a plant known for its medicinal properties.

"We conducted a trial production, extracting one litre of titepati oil. This trial is crucial for discussions with stakeholders. We plan to scale up and manufacture the oil in large quantities," he added.

According to Bhujel, the steam-water produced during titepati processing can be used as medicine, while the residual waste can be repurposed as organic fertiliser.

"Given the high market potential of titepati oil, we are prioritising its production," Bhujel stated.

Titepati oil is priced between Rs8,000 and Rs10,000 per litre, while the condensed water sells for Rs40 to Rs50 per litre.

The oil has been used to treat various health conditions, including digestive disorders, respiratory ailments, fever, malaria, and skin infections.

Artemisia is a plant that can grow up to two metres in height. It is found throughout Nepal, especially in high-altitude regions between 300 and 3,000 metres, mostly in the mid-hills. The harvesting season lasts from August to November.

To ensure sustainable production, preparations are underway to distribute titepati saplings to farmers for mass cultivation. The processing centre has also started experimenting with other herbs, including tulasi (holy basil), lemongrass, and dhasingre (a local aromatic plant).

Herbs such as titepati, bay leaf, and rosemary are currently being cultivated on 40 ropanies of land.

Further plans include establishing a greenhouse adjacent to the processing centre to grow herb saplings and support continuous production.

Bhujel emphasised that the rural municipality will utilise unused land by forming herb production groups.

"This initiative will not only protect community forests but also generate a reliable source of income for local farmers," he said.

The rural municipality has also constructed a drier house to support herb processing. In addition to medicinal herbs, the municipality plans to produce gundruk (fermented leafy greens) by drying locally sourced green leafy vegetables.

"We encourage farmers to sell their green leafy vegetables to the rural municipality. A public notice has been issued requesting interested farmers to contact us for sales," said Bhujel.

Jitendra Tamang, vice-chairman of the rural municipality, highlighted that the processing centre has been strategically linked to income-generating activities.

"Once fully operational, the centre will create employment opportunities for locals and boost farmers' earnings," he said.

Locals have expressed optimism about the initiative.

Rita Shiva Bhakta, a 45-year-old resident of Dumre, shared her enthusiasm, saying, "The herbs processing centre will greatly benefit farmers. I am hopeful that it will provide us with employment opportunities."

Shankar Raman Uprety, another local, stressed the importance of aligning the centre's operations with its stated goals.

"If the processing centre effectively connects farmers to its programmes, it will have a significant positive impact on the community," he said.

The rural municipality remains committed to developing Dumre as a thriving hub for herb production, fostering sustainable farming practices, and enhancing the livelihoods of its residents.

Officials say Nepal has abundant medicinal herbs and agricultural goods that could be exported to China.

Last year, China opened its market to over a dozen medicinal herbs from Nepal for pharmaceutical use.

During then-prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal's visit to China in late September, the two countries signed the Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for exporting plant-derived medicinal materials for Chinese medicine from Nepal to China.

In the last fiscal year, Nepal exported 7,362 tonnes of medicinal herbs worth Rs2.25 billion, including yarsagumba (Ophiocordyceps sinensis), a highly prized Himalayan herb, commonly known as caterpillar fungus that grows naturally in the Himalayas. Of the total export, yarsagumba weighing 1 tonne worth Rs701.86 million went mainly to Hong Kong and China.

Other plants or their parts amounting to 7,361 tonnes worth Rs1.54 billion used in perfumery and pharmaceutical products were exported, mainly to India, China and Bangladesh.