Of the total demand for 200 tons of pashmina wool, the country imports about 160 tons from Mongolia, Australia and New Zealand.[break]
“Given the increasing dependency on imported wool, we can´t bring down the production cost and save foreign currency. So, we have decided to involve in mountain goats farming to boost wool production,” Mandu Babu Adhikari, the chief program officer of Nepal Pashmina Industries´ Association (NPIA), told Republica.
He further added that NPIA - the umbrella association of Nepali pashmina producers and exporters - has forwarded a preliminary action plan for mountain goats farming to different agencies, including ADB and Nepal Agriculture Research Council (NARC), to initiate joint program for mountain goat farming and processing and spinning of wool.
“We are mulling over to begin the program with the installation of wool processing machines in Mustang, Manang and Dolpa districts as a pilot project,” Adhikari, said, adding, “We will gradually expend the program to 13 other Himalayan districts.”
Mountain goats population in different Himalayan districts currently hover around 500,000 heads, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives.
NPIA has already formed a committee to push forward the program that not only targets to boost wool production by expanding mountain goat farming, but also imparts skills to local farmers. The association will mobilize co-operatives to be formed with the involvement of its members to facilitate the implementation of the program. A total of 182 active pashmina manufacturers and exports are associated with NPIA.
Majority of Nepali pashmina wool produced in different Himalayan districts is sold to markets in Tibet because of the lack of effective programs to promote mountain goat wool.
The total production of wool from sheep and mountain goats dropped sharply to 578 tons during 2009/10, compared to 670 tons recorded in 1984/85.
In a bid to establish quality of Nepali pashmina products, NPIA is also lobbying with United Nations Development Program (UDNP) to set up an independent lab having international accreditation.
At present, Nepali pashmina are being sent to China, Hong Kong and United Kingdom for quality test.
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