Shovel in hand, a pint of water, and soapnut saplings are the things Ms. Devi is carrying today as she walks to her field. Today is a special day for her as she is planting soap nut trees in her small piece of land. Usually, she, along with her family, grows cereal crops every year. This only enables her to put food on the table but the soapnut tree is a glimmer of hope. This is her gateway to earn that extra income to be able to provide her children with new clothes and other essentials in the future with the income generated from her own soap nut trees while preserving her field from landslides.
Relevance of soapnut trees in the ecosystem
Soapnut trees hold an important value for the local communities in Nepal. Soapnuts or Sapindus mukorossi, is known as “Ritha” in Nepal. The Soapnut tree is a deciduous tree that grows in the lower foothills and mid-hills of the Himalayan region. It grows up to altitudes of 4000 feet and is tolerant to reasonably poor soil. One mature soapnut tree can yield around 30-35 kg of fruit on an annual basis. Soapnut, while being an important part of the lives of the communities, also has huge medical significance. The shells are used to treat eczema and psoriasis. They also have anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and insecticidal properties. The powdered seeds are used for the treatment of arthritis, the common cold, constipation, nausea, and dental caries. The poultice of soapnut is prepared and it is applied on the affected portions of joints for relief from joint pains. As a part of the daily lives of the local communities, soapnut trees are a source of shade in the fields, the branches are used as firewood and the leaves of the trees are used for fodder. Apart from this, the soapnut shells are used for washing hair, clothes, and bathing. They are also used for cleaning purposes.
Traditionally, this is how soapnut trees have aided the life of local communities but now, it has become more than that. With the world moving towards a more organic lifestyle, the demand for soapnut berries has been on the rise. This has opened up a new avenue of income generation for these local communities.
With the west now also realizing the importance of soapnuts for sustainable living, they are drawn to these tiny gooey berries which can be highly beneficial for the local communities. Unfortunately, there is limited awareness of the importance of this tree in remote areas and in some cases, these trees are chopped off to make more space for cultivating crops. Apart from the financial relevance, these trees can also play a huge role in holding the soil, hence preventing landslides which a major natural disasters in these areas.
An effort toward sustainability
Image: Soapnut sapling distribution drive
Keeping these challenges in mind, Sattva Nepal, Seepje B.V, and Cime bvba decided to take a step towards solving the challenge of empowering the locals while preserving the ecosystem. We have joined hands to launch a soap nut plantation drive in the remote areas of the Karnali province in Nepal. With the support of the local community leaders, this collective has been able to plant around 8000 saplings across 16 villages in the region. A total of 28 farmers are a part of this noble project. This drive has empowered more people like Ms. Devi to plant soapnut trees in their own fields irrespective of the size of land available to them with proper guidance from experts.
A welcome initiative
Image: Sapling plantation in the field
The Soapnut Plantation drive has been highly appreciated by the locals. They have welcomed it as it helps them preserve their ecosystem and also ensures the livelihoods of their children. Mr. Gan Bahadur Pun (70 years) shares “What we plant here today will support our generations ahead. This is not a mere plantation of soapnuts, this is insurance for our children’s future.” In this plantation drive organized in July 2021, we saw the active participation of the farmers along with their family members.
A promise for a sustainable future
Image: Soapnut Sapling
Together the soapnut plantation collective aims at planting around 10,000 trees in the next two years. Nepal is heavily dependent on the export of medicinal herbs and aromatic plants for its income. While we take benefit of the bounty that nature has to offer, we are also responsible for taking care of these forests and doing our bit as responsible citizens of the world. This is a small yet significant step towards sustainable sourcing while empowering our communities. We look forward to a future where we function in balance with nature.
Reference:
- “Trade Potentility and Ecological Analysis of NTFPs in Himalayan Kingdo” by Krishna Lal Poudel (unm.edu)
- Dhar JP, Bajpai VK, Setty BS and Kamboj VP. Contraception 1989; 39(5): 563-568.
- Syed Akbar. Deccan Chronical- Herbal Cure 2011.
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