Importance of medicinal plants of Nepal discussed

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Sept. 8: An experience exchange meeting of the organizations associated with Nepal Non-timber Forest Products was held on Friday in Kathmandu. At the meeting, organized by Asian Network for Sustainable Agriculture and Bioresources (ANSAB), the participants discussed on important medicinal plants of Nepal.

According to ANSAB, about 50 community forests of Salyan district paid Rs. 2.2 million as revenue last year for the selling of pine resin. If they could be refined the resin the revenue would have increased, it said.

At the meeting, one participated, raising the question of Rs. 500 royalty for one yarchagumba, said that the increase of royalty would only encourage more illegal trade of the plant. He said it would be better to levy royalty on yarchagumba according to weight than on pieces.

The meeting also said the local people, organizations and other should also be consulted while fixing royalties on products like herbs and medicinal plants. The meeting also said that a Centre needs to be formed to provide information and other technicalities related to non-timber products, their production, processing and uses. The meeting concluded by fixing the date for the next meeting on Mangsir 15 and the issues to be discussed at the international conference to be held in Chiangmai of Thailand.

IREF expresses satisfaction over progress

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Sept. 8: The second boarding meeting of the Interim Rural Energy Fund has expressed satisfaction over the general progress in subsidy delivery by the IREF, but it expressed concern about the delay in credit arrangement for the Solar Home System (SHS) and Micro Hydro (MH) installations.

IREF is a joint initiative of His Majesty’s Government and Energy Sector Assistance Programme, DANIDA, with funds totalling about Rs. 350 million that would be enough for about 25,000 SHS and about 2,500 KW of micro hydro.

According to IREF, since the fund became operational in April 2001, it has disbursed subsidy to 3256 SHSs covering more than 44 districts and paid subsidy to 8 MHs. In addition IREF has committed subsidy to additional 20 MHs.In terms of peak KW, IREF has disbursed subsidy to 126.49KW of solar system amounting to Rs. 27 M, a press release of the Fund says. It also said that 143 KW of MH has been provided with subsidy of Rs. 10.4 M and 370.5 KW of MH has been approved conditionally with a commitment that would translate to Rs. 28 M.

Under the current policy, a subsidy of Rs. 8,000 or 50 per cent of the cost depending on per SHS of capacity above 10 peak Watt is provided. There is also a provision of additional subsidy for remote and very remote areas at the rate of 25 per cent and 50 per cent of above subsidy. MH installations get Rs. 70,000 per KW subsidy with provision for transportation allowance of about Rs. 8,000 and Rs. 21,000 per KW in areas that are reachable by 2-5 days walk and more than 5 days walk from the nearest roadhead.

At the meeting Director of IREF, Dr. Madan Bahadur Basnyat had presented the report. Dr. Basnyat also informed the Board that IREF is expecting to disburse subsidies to SHS and MH to the tune of Rs. 100M in the current fiscal year.

Art market awaits expansion

Nepal is a country rich in art, culture and heritage. Sandwiched between the two great nations China and India, the Himalayan Kingdom certainly has a strong tradition and heritage from which to draw inspiration. Development is gaining in Nepal but at a slower pace than rest of Asia.

As Nepal was opened to the outer world from 1950 onwards, unlike other sectors, Nepalese art flourished in the decade of sixties. Since then, Nepalese art has become much popular in most of the nooks and corners of the world. It has been able to make its way to Sotheyby and Christie— both the world’s auction houses — which have so far auctioned many Nepalese sculptures, Thankas; traditional and contemporary art works.

It was possible due to the onerous effort of all concerned to give a filling to the publicity campaign. No doubt, the writers’ role is very important for the development of art sector but the critic has to find the strength to be objective in the face of myriad demands from artists, gallery people, curators and other lovers too.

Over the past fifteen years, the Nepalese art world has seen many ups and down particularly in Kathmandu. Critics, artists, galleries and collectors as well as the art fanatics have to contend with a deluge of new ideas and artistic commitments. All this has made the work of art critiques more challenging and complex.

The dilemma is such that there still exists the dearth of books published on traditional or contemporary Nepalese art. The bitter reality is that the art market mechanism is still in an incipient stage. Hence the need of the hour is to strive for a better infrastructure and mechanism to develop the art market.

There is the lack of documentation and Nepalese criticism of art works is still very weak. Compared to the last decade, the Nepalese people seem to be taking more interest in art. The general public has a penchant to contemporary paintings. Thus, sales of contemporary art have soared over the years and many new collectors and art lovers have entered the art market.

But, the inconsistent political climate has negatively affected negatively all sectors. The art sector too has been a visit of adverse political climate that raises its head from time to time.

The prices for art do not automatically go up. As the collectors stop buying art works, the market will definitely shrink. Thus, it is necessary to fix standards for pricing. Nepal should have some institution where critics, art historians and other experts could set standards on the price of art as being done in the west. That would augur well for everybody.

Publishing books, journals and catalogues should develop the art world infrastructure properly. If possible, museums should be built and research in art must be encouraged.

The lack of basic knowledge of art in general is a difficult issue that is being faced by the Nepalese art field. The collectors are looking for solid information on art and artists. As there are no journals and newspapers highlighting art works, people at home and abroad seem to be pushed into the darkness.

There are many modern Nepalese arts, music, cultural talents that have earned recognition throughout the world. They have achieved global acclaim and have opened up new horizons for modern art while being based in Europe or in the hometown too.

Indeed, Nepal has a wealth of resources in art. Yet inspire of these potentials, art has failed to develop into an industry.

Time has come for all committed critics, art historians, curators and gallery owners to make timely changes and rectify the lapses.

Nepal Association of Fine Arts (NAFA), under the Royal Nepal Academy, is the only official organisation that looks after the promotion and preservation of Nepalese arts. But due to various causes it has not been functioning well. Instead it is dogged with controversy and groupism. The artists and critics associated with this institution must be involved for development of art.

If artists could articulate about their work, then critics would have a basis on which to elaborate the values behind it. And then only the write-ups will not be misappropriated. However, critics too should address theories but also aesthetics and art history. Then only change will come for the betterment.

The art community is pretty competitive. So, Nepalese art needs a visionary leader who can expose a rich cultural heritage of Nepal from which many artists from home and abroad could be inspired to draw numerous worthy art pieces to the world stage.

The current government’s vision of knowledge on arts and culture is both meaningful and refreshing. But such an ambitious vision requires effective implementation to realize these lofty goals.

In fact arts and culture should be recognized as one of the most important factors determining a country’s quality of life, as well as one of the strategic elements for encouraging creativity and enhancing economic value added.

Thus, from the perspective of Nepal’s economic development strategy there is an urgent need to reassess the role of arts, culture and should be recognized as a major concern of economic policymakers. The new laws should be focussed on attracting the galleries for encouragement.

This will inspire millions of foreigners whether in business or pleasure trip to come to Nepal to see the treasure land’s rich mix of indigenous, sub-continent and Tibetan influences, unrivalled temples, wall painting and carvings every year.

So if the art market in Nepal is to mature groupism and lobbying for petty interests must be stopped. Given the fact that the artists, critiques and the art fanatics have the zeal to vie for excellence, the future of arts is certainly bright.