NPIA preparing to procure wool from local farmers

KATHMANDU, April 24: Nepal Pashmina Industries Association (NPIA) is making final preparation to procure pashmina wool extracted from mountains goats in Manang, Mustang and Dolpa districts.



The central cooperative promoted by NPIA - the umbrella organization of Nepali pashmina producers and exporters -- will buy wool collected by local pashmina cooperatives in those districts from June.[break]



“We are preparing to buy pashmina wool collected by farmers in Manang, Mustang and Dolpa where local cooperatives are being set up to encourage farmers into mountain goats farming,” said Mandu Babu Adhikari, chief program officer of NPIA.



NPIA recently concluded a sensitization program for more than 15 farmers in Manang district. “We are soon conducting similar awareness programs to farmers in Mustang and Dolpa where production of wool is very high,” Adhikari, who recently returned from Manang, said.



“We are also forming cooperatives of farmers to institutionalize wool production and collection activities there."



In an effort to commercialize mountain goat farming, wool production and quality import of wool Pashmina entrepreneurs have registered central cooperative and local cooperatives, involving pashmina producers, exporters and mountain goat farmers in a bid to commercialize mountain goat farming and wool production.



“We came up with the cooperative concept to ensure import of quality wool to manufacturers through NPIA. The cooperative will not only discourage supply wool of poor quality, but will also help bring prices down through bulk purchase," said Adhikari.



Pashmina entrepreneurs are complaining about the quality of wool imported from China -- the key supplier.



NPIA members, who are producing pashmina products of Nepali Chyangra (mountain goat) brand, import over 200 tons of wool from China, Hong Kong, Israel, India and Italy every year. Local farmers supply only about 40-50 tons. Cost of pashmina wool ranges from Rs 12,000 and Rs 18,000 per kg, depending on the quality of wool.



The cooperative will mobilize around Rs 20 million as seed money to import wool.



According to the Trade and Export Promotion Center (TEPC), imports of pashmina wool more than tripled to Rs 674 million during fiscal year 2009/10 compared to Rs 219.4 million of a year earlier. Entrepreneurs, however, claim that annual wool import is worth over Rs 1 billion.

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