Since few years back, essential oil distillers of Dolakha districts had been distilling Dhasingre (Gaultheria fragrantissima) , Dhupi (Juniperus indica, J. recurva) and Sunpati (Rhododendron anthopogon) successfully. A general cost benefit discussion analysis among those entrepreneurs indicated that Dhasingare distillers have to reduce cost of production to get more profit where as Dhupi and Sunpate distillers are in more profit mood though they all need further alternate resources option to utilized their units in full capacity for leisure period to generate more incomes.
Introduction
Twenty three community distillation units (2000 ltr./600 kg. vessel capacity) are working in the Dolakha area. They are based on local raw material resources from Community forests. In case of Dhasinghare (Gaultheria fragrantissima)oil production raw materials come from community forests from 1500 – 2700 m altitude where as Sunpate (Rhododendron anthopogon) and Dhupi (Juniperus indica, Juniperus recurva) resource are collected also from national forests above 2700 m altitudes. Most of the units are based on direct heating system where as few have boiler operated units.
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| Juniperus indica | Gaultheria fragrantissima | Rhododendron anthopogon |
Methodology
Department of Plant Resources and GTZ had conducted a training for sixteen aromatic oil distillers of Dolakha district in last week of December 2010 at head quarter of Dolakha district. The author had got an opportunity to discuss on existing status, problems, needs, and cost benefit analysis among those training participants. Data information had been gathered with common consensus of all participating entrepreneurs. Generated data and information had been summarized and presented in this document. Text information has been presented in bullet form.
Results and Discussion
- Most enterprises have supported by Himalayan bio-trade company.
- Dhasingare & Sunpate distillars use spent twigs as fuel wood too.
- Generally one load (1 bhari) of fuel wood costs NRs.50 in Dolakha area.
- They have only 2 buyers for their products (Himalayan Bio-trade Company and Herbs Production and Processing Company).
- In community forests as well as in national forests, no rotation harvesting system is followed properly.
- Raw materials are being collected from distant areas.
- When entrepreneurs get less raw materials usually distillation vessels had been moved to new resource base areas.
- In every harvesting season price of raw materials and transportation wages are increasing.
- Unavailability of local manpower is other problem to distillers.
- In off season units are under utilized for many months. Thus they need alternate options to use vessels in leisure time.
- Mostly, only one batch of distillation takes a full day- 1 shift per day only.
- Usually distillation vessels are not frequently cleaned which helps to produce brown colored low quality oil.
- No fire wood supply plan are incorporated in their work plan. This indicates unsuitable fire wood management.
- No resource sustainability monitoring system is followed by concern authority.
- No clear benefit sharing system has been incorporated in enterprises for local people, share holders, and entreprenuers.
- The current cost analysis indicated very less profit margin to Dhasingare distillers.
- International buyers are accepting these essential items though regarding the color of oil.
- Since a decade, local oil buyers had been selling oil products in name of Wintergreen , Juniper and Anthopogon oil which had not mentioned the plant’s name.
| Plant Name |
Rate of Foloise (Rs.) |
Fuelwood (Rs.) |
Manpower (Rs.) |
Total (Rs.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dhasinghare | 2.5/kg x 600 = 1500 | 400/ 8 bhari | 1000 | 2900 |
| Dhupi | 8/kg x 600 = 4800 | 700/ 10 Bhari | 1000 | 6500 |
| Sunpate | 5/kg x 600 = 3000 | 500/ 10 Bhari | 1000 | 4500 |
| Plant Name | Oil Production |
Oil Selling Rate (Rs.) |
Cost of Oil Product (Rs.) |
Total Profit (Rs.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dhasinghare | 3 kg | 1000 | 3000 | 100 |
| Dhupi | 3 kg | 3000 | 9000 | 2500 |
| Sunpate | 4-5 kg | 1600 | 6400 - 8000 | 1900 -3500 |
Conclusion
Essential oil distillers of Dolakha districts has been distilling Dhasingre (Gaultheria fragrantissima), Dhupi (Juniperus indica, J. recurva) and Sunpati (Rhododendron anthopogon) successfully. A general cost benefit discussion analysis among local entrepreneurs had indicated that: Dhasingare distillers have to reduce cost of production to get more profit where as Dhupi and Sunpate distillars are in profit mood though they all need further alternate resources option to utilized their units in full capacity for leisure period to generate more incomes.
During cost and benefit of oil production/batch, in this current study, cost of raw materials, labor cost, and fuel wood cost had been compared against price of oil produced. Among above three items very less profit margin was accounted in case of Dhasingre where as in case of Dhupi and Sunpate items good profit margin had been calculated (Table-1, 2).
Acknowledgement
I like to thank Mrs. Rose Shrestha , Scientific Officer of Dept. of Plant Resources allowing me to set a discussion session with the aromatic distillers of Dolakha at Charikot on this above concern topic.
Reference
Anonymous (2007). Medicinal Plants of Nepal (Revised). Bill. Dept. of Plant resources No. 28. Department of Plant Resources, Thapathali , Kathmandu, Nepal
