LEGALIZING THE TRADE OF THOGSAM PA IN MERAK

Introduction

The case of Thogsampa (in Sharchop) or Satuwa (in Lhotshamkha)  which is scientifically known as Paris polyhoylla availability came to light in Merak area not long ago although the traders with knowledge have been collecting the species and selling it across the border since the last four years. The community confirms that the resource is depleting because of the unsustainable harvest practice. The species in Merak is collected from the stretches between the open meadows, grazing sites and the forests, and the eco-tones barring the conifer zone. Marshes, drained areas and wet parts of the Gewog are known to have the species in abundance, and Merak with such a habitat is a very suitable place for its growth.

Informal trade of the Paris polyphylla (Figure 1) has been ongoing for at least four years. Information is scarce because people in the community tend to withhold information on the economically viable species. Trade of the species is highly competitive because of its cash value in the local as well as international market. Latest information has it that the value of a kilogram of species costs between US$ 100 to 150, which is why competition for collection is very obvious. In the first and the second year of the start of trade in Merak, only few collectors were engaged while by second year, the number of collectors increased. Even the quantity of species collected also drastically increased (Table 1)

Therefore, management intervention for a legal way to sell the species was considered crucial by the District Forest Sector, Trashigang so that the trade of species which has been going on for a long time without any permits or other formalities could be streamlined. Identified places in southern Merak, like Chepherling, Sheteyme and Kherongnang are the important habitats of the species, and trade of the species has been legalized here.

Figure 1. Paris polyphylla (Photo: Lakey Khandu)

Facilitation Process

With support of Nu. 0.1 Million from the Market Access and Growth Intensification Project (MAGIP) a management plan for the sustainable management of the species is in place for a period of five years. The project plan which is valid up to 2018 will be further renewed if the first five years prove successful, so that continued facilitation of the trade of the species is assured. Support for the sustainable management and trade involving all stakeholders including Dzongkhag Administration, Gewog Administration, the management of Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary and the group itself will continue.

Based on the management plan, office bearers in the form of Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer are appointed. The roles of the office bearers include collection of permit from the nearest forest office, declaration of the quantity of material collected, payment of royalty to government, and finding the market for sale of the product. They are also tasked to ensure sustainable collection of the species from the wild. Further, they also know better how and when to collect the species.

Challenges

People were, initially, reluctant to be part of the group. But after three rounds of meetings; with the Goshey Nyensheys - the influential people of the village, traders, and with the Gewog Administration involving all the households, they were convinced. Members of the community have to be provided incentives in the form of daily service allowance and food for productive engagement.  In spite of such incentives, it remains a challenge to gather information from the people. They still do not share information regarding the species – quantity collected per year, trade routes and information on brokers.

Figure 2.Paris polyphylla growing areas in Merak

Resources mapping needed the involvement of people and it meant going inside the areas where the resources are available. People initially were reluctant, but later gave in as they were convinced that they will benefit from such group formation and such sustainable plan.

Implementation had been very difficult with people from Tawang. They would cross into the Bhutanese jungles around the planned area in search of the product. In an incident involving two Tawang Indians in April 2014, the Chairman of the Thogsampa/Satuwa group himself intervened and came forward to save them when they were reprimanded by the local authorities who found them in one of the houses of Radhi village with Thogsampa contraband.

The Chairman explained to the authorities on how difficult would it be to them when they (Merak and Sakteng people) visit India, especially Tawang and Shar area if the problem is not addressed amicably. As such, local authorities solved the issue by imposing the least possible compensations and allowed the Indians to leave the country without much hassle. With law coming in between, the issue was resolved amicably to the satisfaction of the group as well as the stakeholders. Local level politics come into play especially when such resources management plans are being implemented. There are people in the village who act as brokers that means they collect resources from individuals, add them and sell to the group which is not permissible under the management plan. Such people were identified and cautioned.

One of the biggest challenges has been that people from outside the planned area collected the resources and added it into the group collection to legalize the product. To resolve this issue, the department through its field divisions/parks issued notifications and apprehended some collectors and even penalized them with imposition of fine. However, the issue still remains unresolved since it is very difficult to find out how much of the resources come from where.  

Market Value

By way of market, the value of the species is not fixed because it fluctuated very much over the last three years as shown in Table 1. The reason for rise in both quantity and price may be attributed to the new knowledge on the value of the species. The real price of the species in the final market was not known since the brokers were involved in between.

The value of a kilogram of species in 2011 was Nu. 500.00 only while it increased to Nu.1500.00 in 2012. In 2013, the cost per kilogram reached up to Nu. 2200.00. Another reason for such a rise was that in 2013, the collectors sold the product directly to markets in India without passing on to the brokers. 

Therefore, it was very necessary that we have an organized group working to manage and market the species for equitable distribution of the benefits to people. In 2014, after the legalization of the trade through formation of group, cost per kilogram of material reached Nu. 2500.00 and the people collectively sold about 700 kilograms excluding about 300 kilograms that detained and released by the field forest offices after appropriate penalties. 

Now, the group understands that a kilogram of good quality Thogsampa in international market fetch between Nu. 6000.00 (US $ 100) to Nu. 9000.00 (US $ 150) and the brokers are no more able to take huge profit margins unlike in the past. If they can, the group has the option of exporting outside of the local market.

Table 1: The fluctuating market value in Merak

Year	Quantity (Kg)	Rate (Nu)	Total Income (Nu.)
2011	500	400.00	200000.00
2012	3000	1500.00	4500000.00
2013	5000	2200.00	11000000.00
2014	700	2500.00	1750000.00

Now that the project is in full swing, it is to be seen how it work over the next five years. Observation over the last one year revealed good results and the project has been successful. The future of Thogsampa trade looks promising as the management plan is designed in such a way that the production can be increased. Before the establishment of the plan, people used to collect the product between April to May when the species is actually growing and flowering. Now with plan allowing the collectors to do so only when the species is actually matured, production is expected to grow and the income increased.

Lessons Learnt

The most prominent lesson from this first ever Thogsampa Management group formation has been the species that was insignificant until three years ago is now a valuable commodity. When the collection first began, the species was not even listed under Non-Wood Forest Products. It is now very much part of the NWFP which require proper plans if at all it has to be traded. People now know the rate of royalty per kilogram of the product and the market value of the species in different localities.

Some other lessons learnt from the project are that people have been collecting the species without any proper permits; that people were apprehensive about trading it openly and that people were never openly trading the species pre-management plan approval.

Benefits

The illegitimate trade and transport of the species by the people of Merak is immediately stopped. The project has encouraged sustainable harvest and facilitated smooth legal trade. Unlike the past, people need not be apprehensive while trading the product. With this plan the community has learnt how sustainable management planning of the species can impact the rural livelihood as they have been involved in resources mapping and the drafting of the management plan by-laws in line with the Forest and Nature Conservation policies.

Area wise, the project covers whole of Merak Gewog under Trashigang Dzongkhag with a total of 76 households deriving direct benefit of hassle free trade although the project intervention came in just a year ago.

Gender participation for the project has been good with about 50 percent ladies (Figure 3) attending the in house facilitation meetings and training while men took the charge of guarding the resources in the forests.

Figure 3. Group discussion in progress. Notice that ladies outnumber the gents in this group. 

Way Forward
Transportation is a challenge, but the group has the option of inviting the traders to their village. Therefore, the need of the hour is build the capacity of the group executives by exposing them to actual markets. They may be trained on post-harvest techniques and given capacity to be able to add values to the product. The group may also be trained on use of the species because people have known its value not long ago and the species may not have any association to Bhutanese tradition or culture.

Since the demand for the species is high, further research on domestic propagation of the species for mass production to benefit the people may be explored.

Conclusion

Works for facilitating smooth trade of Thogsampa is now complete. Based on the policy of the government to allow only groups to collect valuable natural resources instead of individuals, management plan for sustainable production and trade is in place.  Bylaws and trade modalities are now functional. People now know what to do with the product legally. The trading of species is expected to increase the income of the group and surrounding people making their life better.

Acknowledgments

Thanks are due to International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) funded MAGIP project and people associated to the project. Without funding, the group should have never been formed and the trade never legalized. I would also like to acknowledge the services of Lakey Khandu, Gewog Ranger, local government officials of the Gewog Administration, and officials of Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary for making the group formation easy and feasible.