Devdas Shrestha

Charikot, February 26:

Lack of raw materials and a proper market, have pushed the paper industry based in Dolakha district to the very edge of survival.

Demand for Nepali papers is limited only to the Kathmandu valley. At the same time, lokta and angeli (raw materials used to manufacture papers) are not easily available.

“Our paper business is facing a very difficult time,” said Karma Sherpa, proprietor of Bhimeshwor Papers Industry.

The future of Nepali paper industry will be brighter if it is exported abroad. But for this, lokta should be grown professionally, he added.

Previously, lokta and angeli were abundantly available in the forest but now they are rarely found due to encroachment of forest areas, said a source close to district forest office (DFO), Dolakha.

If a steady supply of raw material can be built up, there won’t be very many problems facing the Nepali paper industry, stated DFO, adding in order to boost business, farmers need to grow lokta and angeli in a professional manner.

Meanwhile, the DFO has urged the community forests to start farming of lokta and angeli efficiently. Kamalmai community forest has already started farming of Jungule lokta, according to the DFO.

Out of a total 34 paper industries registered in the district, only nine are producing papers.

During a year, except the monsoon season from June to August, papers are produced for nine months.

The main market for Nepali papers is Kathmandu only.

About 20-30 thousands koris (a unit of measurement containing 20 pieces) of Nepali papers are produced in a year in the district The market price of lokta is Rs 50 to 55 for per kg while finished paper is sold for Rs 500 to 1,000 for per kori, depending on the standard of the papers, said the sources in the paper industry.