Reducing Rural Energy Crisis
Appropriate Policies Needed

By Khilendra Basnyat

ENERGY has been termed as the fuel of economic progress. As such, development areas need more energy which multiplies human labour, increasing productivity. It lights buildings, purifies water, powers machinery, stores and disseminates information among others.

Population growth, the desire for comfort, material acquisition, mobility and communication, and access to the materials, processes and technology to meet such desires by an increasing number of people has brought with it rising energy demand and the incentives to meet it.

Key Factor

In fact, there is a direct correlation between the degree of economic growth, the size of per capita income and per capita energy consumption. This is evident from the fact that countries that have had abundant energy supply available to them have higher rates of industrial growth and increase in the Gross National product than the countries deficient in energy supply.

Over ninety per cent of the total energy is consumed by the domestic sector, most of which is used for cooking. Therefore, the largest proportion of energy use is for meeting basic food needs.

About ninety-six per cent of the energy used by the domestic sector is met by firewood. Consequently, there is a serious danger of environmental problems due to accelerated deforestation.

According to the World Bank, in 1991 between seven and eight million of Nepal’s total population lived in absolute poverty, unable to support their minimum daily caloric intake and satisfy their minimum energy needs for cooking and heating.

The rural poor, especially women and children, have suffered a lot in this declining spiral because they are the main users of forest products such as firewood, folder and handicraft materials. Difficulties in acquiring sufficient wood has not only led to nutrition and hygiene problems but also to setback in food production.

Due to scarce firewood, agricultural residue is being increasingly diverted from its traditional fodder or manure use. Hence, the firewood problem is not only an energy issue but a symption of the deteriorating environmental and socio-economic conditions that lead to poverty.

In reality, wood supplies for the rural poor can be augmented through the promotion of local community forestry projects which have been launched in different parts of the country since the past few years. However, community forestry projects alone cannot solve Nepal’s mounting rural energy problems because under such projects there is no adequate production from newly planted or existing forests. What is more, community forests alone will not be able to solve the problem of deforestation in Nepal.

Keeping this fact in mind, the Eighth Five-Year Plan placed emphasis on the use of electricity and other alternative energy sources as substitutes to firewood. No license is required for hydropower projects with up to one thousand kilowatt capacity, and there is a provision for tax exemption of private sector generating hydroelectricity up to one thouasnd kilowatt. Apart from this, the government provides tax initiatives for alternative energy producers and grants and subsidies to users, especially in the promotion of biogas and solar energy.

Started with the joint initiatives of the United Nation’s Development Programme and His Majesty’s Government in 1996, the Rural Energy Development Programme (REDP) has been found fruitful to bring about improvement in rural energy crisis.

The overriding goal of REDP is to increase the level of energy services to the rural poor by developing a range of technology including micro hydro, solar, biogas and improved cooking stoves.

REDP is based on a holistic approach to rural development, a decentralised mode of technology transfer and a wide scale of social mobilisation and community participation. Since sustainability is the key to REDP intervention, there is a provision to provide necessary training to local people.

As of December 1999, twenty-five plants with a total capacity of four hundred kilowatt have already been commissioned through REDP. Apart from this, some peltric sets have also been installed in progarmme districts.

REDP has reportedly completed forty-five micro hydro-projects generating six hundred and seventy-six kilowatt of electricity, and micro hydro-projects with total power output of seven hundred and twently-eight kilowatt are under construction. The programme has also supported the installation of nine hundred and five solar systems, five hundred and one biogas plants and about four thousand improved cooking stoves.

By the end of 2001, eighty schemes supported by REDP will be completed in fifteen districts such as Achham, Baiatdi, Deadeldhura, Bajura, Dailekh, Pyuthan, Baglung, Myadgi, Parvat, Tanahu, Dolakha, Kavrepalanchowk, Sindhu-palchowk, Okhaldhunga and Tehrathum with a total generating capacity of one thousand and four hundred kilowatt.

At present about fifty thousand rural people have access to electricity. After the completion of the afore-mentioned schemes, the total electricity generated by micro hydro plants in Nepal will be increased by one-third, making electricity accessible to about seventy thousand more rural people.

Necessity

The fulfilment of basic needs of the large proportion of rural population should be based on rural energy. For this the rural energy development programmes in Nepal should be looked at as an opportunity to overcome energy constraints in agriculture, cottage industry, tourism, transportation and communication. As a matter of fact, the provision of electricity or biogas provides a new impetus for rural development through the infusion of new technology as well as skills.

In the past, several seminars and workshops were conducted to bring about development in the energy sector in Nepal. Such practices are not worthless. However, it is absolutely essential to crystallise ideas and formulate appropriate policies for the susbtantial development of energy in rural areas where there is crisis due to increasing deforestation.

Tourism Marketing: Some Positive Efforts

By Mohan K.C.

TOURISM is considered to be an industry that is vital for the development of a country like Nepal. Its contribution to the national economy can be gauged by the spurt of infrastructure development that it sets in motion. It is a fact that physical infrastructure like roads, drinking water supply, electricity. etc. are necessary for the development of tourism. This goes on to supplement the services that the local people avail of areas that are developed as tourist sites.

Desires

There is no dearth of attraction to fulfil the desires of the visitors flowing into Nepal. It is not only for those repeat visitors but also who decide to come by hearsay about visiting this country. This is only a part of the story. The need has been felt over time and, with the keen global competition, that the marketing strategy too should be in place if the country is to see a significant rise in the number of tourists.

If the year 2000 is to be visualised, it proved to be a dismal year as far as tourism industry was concerned. The sudden drop in arrivals could be substantiated by a number of reasons including the frequent bandhs and other protest programmes besides the concern over the security aspects. These were also responsible for hampering with the movement of tourists within the country itself.

It is always stressed that the tourist generating markets must be tapped with a greater promotion and publicity drive. In the past, being told of the attractions of Nepal by friends or relatives who had visited this country would have provided the desire to travel to this unique destination. It also holds true to some extent today. But that alone is not enough to increase arrivals in the present times. Competition to capture a larger volume is seen today which makes it essential for innovative steps to market the country to a wider audience ranging all the way from South Asia or the SAARC member countries to China, South East Asian countries, Europe, Americas and Australia.

It is easy to talk of promotion in reports or studies but it is a herculean task when it comes to the task of promotion in reality. The existence of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) is mainly for this very purpose. With the tourism tax levied on tourism services including hotels and restaurants generates the fund so necessary to fuel the drive to promote the country abroad. Together with it, NTB also has its eyes on boosting domestic tourism.

In this context, the Indian market is being eyed to bring in more tourists from the southern neighbour. Though, 2000 saw a drastic decline in arrivals from India, the scenario this year is encouraging. The similarities that exist between Nepal and India, despite a number of differences, are enough to attract Indian tourists to Nepal. The open borders that exists between the two countries facilitates the movement of people from both sides. The minimal of hassles at the borders coming overland or by air helps lessen the problems that has to be faced if there were more formalities to be completed. This makes Nepal an ideal destination for those wanting to visit the Himalayan Kingdom.

Known for its unique art and architecture, religious and historical monuments, Nepal offers a vast playground for the interested. Realising the potential of the Indian market where Nepal can be promoted, NTB has done well to exploit the situation. It is for this reason that it has gone ahead with the special promotion campaign dubbed "Nepal festival of Life—Fun Next Door Like Never Before" from May 1 to July 31.

Considered as a fit investment for good returns, the special promotion is to cost 16 million rupees. The focus is to present Nepal as a safe and value for money destination. The 90 day celebration is thought to be action in a right direction to prop up to some extent of the tourism sector that suffered so much during last year.

That the special campaign will be backed by "massive campaign" speaks that the concerned people have woken up to the reality that nothing happens on its own despite the possession of many a wonders. Just gloating over the natural and cultural heritage does not lead to a sudden influx of tourists. Sustained drive is an important ingredient. Together with it new products must be developed to suit the different categories of tourists.

Security

It is herein that the physical infrastructure must be developed—after all, tourists want value for the money that they spend here. The tourists must get the services that they desire. The security aspect too needs attention. As this is a sensitive issue, every care must be taken to see that the tourists are not inconvenienced. The protest programmes that take place frequently is a matter of concern. The news of such events travels fast nowadays which make many potential visitors revise their travel plans to this country. Hence, it is a collective effort which require contribution from all sides.

Escape From The Boredom

By Ambar Mainali

MAN has learnt to adore the might and exotic beauty of nature since time immemorial. Life on earth would have been a dull story had there not been so much to look around and ponder over.

Rapid urbanisation and the thorough mechani-sation of life have forced humans to move away from the realm of the natural world. That brings in

the thought of barging into a pub quite appealing to many overworked minds. But going out into the wilderness and interacting with the natural surroundings does not receive much approval from the lazy urban dwellers.

This is because we have yet to inculcate the culture of going out for a trek or camping by the riverside. The idea of recreation is only confined to taking spicy food, drinking expensive liquor or partying till late night.

People, especially those who get themselves into a rut with day in and day out routine work are confused and depressed. They are nonchalant about the gifts of nature. All they dream about is of luxuries.

One need not vie for an expensive outing to escape from the boredom. All one needs to do is to go out into the open. This very idea made a lot of sense to this scribe when trekking across the hilly districts of Kaski, Myagdi and Baglung some six years back.

The trek was certainly arduous. But it was a lifetime experience. The team comprised of journalists invited by the Lumle Agriculture Research Center. Most in the group were full time journalists who had for long been wanted a break and the trek served them right.

The main objective of the programme was to assess the impact of the Research Center on the lives of the local farmers in the three districts. The green forests, the verdant meadows and the crops, which reflected the hard work of the farmers, infused stamina and zeal among the journalists to trek ahead.

The sorry part of the intriguing story was that none of them had ever traveled such a long distance on foot. Had many of them known that the trek would be so exhausting then they would probably never have turned up for the trip.

Among many of the indelible reminiscences of the trek, the voracious appetite which the team members developed at the end of the day was amazing. It was hard to believe how much one could eat. The cooks often had to prepare additional meal after the journalists were done with their dinner.

One fine evening, when the days walk was believed to have come to an end, a colleague asked the organiser where the camp was going to be set. Much to the dismay of all the team members, he pointed out at the towering hill and said, "Probably we will camp on the other side of the hill."

The answer came like a slap on the face. All were tired and wanted to lie down right there. With a lot of convincing, the team members again picked up their bags and headed towards the hill.

The later part was quite exciting. Everybody was heard to be admiring his own strength. The next day the team reached Myagdi and tents were pitched by the riverside. The locals were holding a cultural programme in the vicinity. The dance was again something special.

With all the good memories of Myagdi, the team started off to Baglung. One of the colleagues had a fracture in his leg and had to be carried on a horseback. Walking along the riverbanks with the snowcapped mountains in the backdrop really worked magic on the team members. Several days of strenuous walk had made all of them strong and jubilant.

After halting for a night in Baglung, all of us returned to the Research Center in a jeep. It had taken us several days to traverse the hills and rivers but to our surprise the ride all the way from Baglung to Lumle was a mere four hours.