Tuesday, November 18, 2014

“What are your future plans?” Ask this question to youngsters in Kathmandu, and pat comes the answer, “I’ll be going abroad.” Dig deeper and you’ll find they already have a list of colleges tracked out. Invariably, the majority will be those in the United States. Well, it’s a pity, really. Most of them don’t know what they are getting into; a pit full of trouble, a quagmire of problems. While there may be some for whom money is not a problem, their parents having the big bucks needed to see them through four or five years of extreme expenses, for most others, it’s simply not worth it.

Living expenses alone could well total close to a lakh a month, and even if there are all sorts of gambits of colleges to acquire students, such as scholarships, it’s advisable to read the fine print. First thing students got to realize is that nothing is for free out there. You’ll probably have to shell out another lakh or so every month for fees, books, insurance, and so forth. Does it make sense to spend so much money to get a degree that will use up all your parent’s hard earned money or probably put them into debt? There are many youngsters (and parents, too) who are under the illusion that after the initial investment of a year’s expenses, students will be able to take care of it themselves. A dangerous illusion, to say the least.

For one thing, students cannot work legally; permission is needed, and even if that, they can work for limited hours only. For another, it’s a tough task having to work and study at the same time, especially when you know that the educational system out there is heavily geared towards projects that take up a lot of the student’s time outside college. It’ a fact that many students (even the locals) do not finish college within the expected period, because they just cannot pay the fees every semester without taking off time to earn by working more hours.

Now, there’s one question that’s pretty much unanswered till now—how useful are the degrees you get abroad in Nepal’s context? One thing is for sure, it will take you a long, long, time (if ever) to recover the expenses incurred in getting that degree. So, the query is the same, does it make sense to go through all the hardship and uncertainty, and the expenses you can ill afford?

Nobody can say for sure, but there are perhaps quite a number who have returned without finishing their studies due to paucity of funds. And, there could perhaps be quite a number who have abandoned studies and are living illegally abroad, the conditions of their student visas having long been violated. Whatever the case may be, many youngsters surely must be regretting their impulsive foray into colleges abroad.

Actually, if you think about it, common sense should prevail; the Nepali rupee is one hundredth of currencies in many lands students go to. So, tough times ahead are a given. Okay, a spirit of adventure and all that is fine, but not when you know that you’re going to land in a situation where you can neither swallow nor spit it out. It’s hard to abandon dreams and harder to sacrifice the investment already made. And so, you keep on toiling, and toiling, and toiling.

All those young exuberant years when you should be having fun, enjoying a great social life, and building long term relationships. What a waste!

http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2014/07/02/related_articles/postplatform--so-you-want-to-go-abroad-eh/264577.html

Here Comes the Rain

As he gazed down from his celestial abode, the Almighty was happy to see the denizens of Kathmandu Valley building temples galore with great zeal. “These simple folk are leaving no stone unturned to honor me. They deserve to be rewarded.” So, He, the most benevolent, blessed the valley with fine weather that would be the envy of all others. However, He was dismayed to observe that with the progression of the various seasons, his faithful people suffered from disease during the hot summer months. “It is due to their lack of awareness,” He thought. “They do not know much about how to keep their environment clean.”

He was, of course, patient with his chosen ones. He thought, “They need more time to develop the infrastructure to ensure a better environment. In the meantime, I must do something to ease their distress.” He ordered the heavens, “Be generous in pouring clean rain water on the valley during the hot months!” The rubbish scattered round its many lanes and streets would be washed away. It would also increase the flow of the valley’s sacred rivers and make them less polluted. At the same time, He did not wish the heavens to be over-enthusiastic and bring floods and devastation. He well remembered how difficult it had been, ages ago, to drain the great lake that was once the valley so as to make it inhabitable.

Another thing on His mind was that his favorite valley was becoming more ever more crowded, resulting in chronic water shortage. The usually clean denizens were beginning to be odorous due to lack of water for bathing. More serious was that even when He had provided numerous ice-fed rivers, the people did not have the good sense to build adequate storage capacities. Besides ensuring 24-hour running water, it would also have rid the dictionary of the word ‘load shedding’. But, the foolish people bickered and politicked continuously for 200 years and more, and nothing concrete was achieved.

In their desperation, the foolish denizens began pumping out the precious groundwater at an alarming rate, and even the abundant monsoon rains were failing to replace the loss. Then, his loyal but foolish people went about constructing concrete roads and housing developments over the hereto fruitful fields, which prevented the rainwater from seeping into the ground. He is certain it will not be long before groundwater reserves dry up altogether. Still and all, He loves his people, and so even if he is angry, their suffering gives him sadness, and he waits for them to wake up to reality. He is not vindictive towards them and still commands the heavens to be generous in their favors to the blessed valley. He loves his people so much that he has ensured that they get a comfortable average between 200-375 mm of rain and that it usually rains during the night. All things being favorable, this year, too, the valley can expect satisfactory monsoon rains.

http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2014/06/18/related_articles/postplatform--here-comes-the-rain/264064.html

A Question of Character, a question of Pride

Too many of us are going abroad. It’s understandable that people without much of a chance to earn a decent living in the country due to various factors should try out their luck in foreign lands. It is, however, not understandable why those with good education, substantial family resources, and some personal ability should make foreign shores their destination. Things have reached such a point that everybody, but everybody, seems to be doing all they can to get a Green Card in the States, or Permanent Residency status in places like Australia and elsewhere.

Recent revelations show that government employees in their thousands are already well on their way to abandoning their motherland; they have already acquired their Green Cards or their PR status. In real term, they have, of course, become if not totally unpatriotic, then at the very least, much less so. How weak do we seem to be in character; how poor in pride. It is not only the average Nepali; even the fairly well-reimbursed civil servants have no qualms at all about abandoning their homeland. How tragic is the state of being today. How bitter is the truth that Nepal has, every day, less and less number of patriots. How sad that we all have forgotten the lesson we learnt as children in school: that love for the motherland comes above all else; that

There is something deeply wrong with the average Nepali psyche today. Scratch the surface, and you will find plenty of wealthy and successful businessmen, not to speak of shifty politicians and well qualified professionals, who have a Green Card or a PR status stashed away like an insurance policy. What is this? Do even such people have no hopes for their own country? What is this? Do they have no misgivings at all about living up to their responsibilities as leaders of society? And then there are those who have won high acclaim in this country; those talented artists who have been rewarded with all the honor and awards that this country has to give. Unfortunately, all the awards, all the recognition, what purpose have they served these people? They have served just to help them acquire Green Cards and PR statuses. How tragic is the situation when a country’s highest awards are deemed useful only for this purpose.

Yes, this country is poor; yes it is misgoverned; yes, corruption is all-prevailing; yes, there are more wrongs than there are rights. No doubt, Nepal has a long way to go for its citizens to be assured adequate security, good employment opportunities, and a decent standard of living, but is that reason enough for everybody to be so utterly hopeless that we act so beaten? So defeated? This might all sound idealistic to the extreme, but what can we deduce from the fact that even well-to-do Nepalis of all sections of society are all too ready to sell their very souls for a few dollars more? At the most, one can understand poorer/weaker citizens taking resort to desperate measures and going wherever they can to earn a few dinars more, but what to say about fairly-paid civil servants, successful businessmen, and well- awarded artists? How can they surrender their character and pride so easily?
http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2014/05/15/related_articles/postplatform-goodbye-motherland/262824.html

Black Belt Shrestha

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Biratnagar—Nepal’s Second Biggest City

It is said to be the largest city in Nepal after the capital, Kathmandu. It is also the city from where quite a few of Nepal’s Prime Ministers have come. Biratnagar too is a commercial center with an industrial corridor extending up to Itahari, which is a half hour away by bus on the East West Highway that links the country from one end to another. But, there is a difference between Biratnagar as a business center and other commercial hubs of the country. The difference primarily being that Biratnagar is also a political hotbed that has given birth to some notable politicians.

There are regular flights to Biratnagar from Kathmandu, the flights lasting for some 45 minutes. By road, it’s a long drawn affair as well as a tedious journey that will tire you out. The city is practically the capital of eastern Nepal . The weather is at most times hot and muggy, the lifestyle of its inhabitants, laidback and casual. The latter, because, there are a lot of old fashioned feudal style zamindars in Biratnagar, these zamindars holding large tracts of agricultural land in and around the city. Their lifestyle is of course a reflection of their age-old way of life, a life surrounded by servants and with lots of peasants tilling their fields.

Biratnagar, like Birganj, the other commercial hub of the country, has a sizeable Marwari population. Marwaris are traditionally business oriented people originally from Rajasthan in India who are making a substantial contribution to the country’s economy through their many enterprises. Biratnagar is home to many Marwari icons, some of whom own some of the largest commercial organizations in the country. Perhaps it is fitting that Biratnagar has some of the richest Nepalis as well as some of the most influential politicians, after all, money and politics are quite closely interlinked.

Siddharthnagar―Land of Buddha

Siddharthnagar (formerly called Bhairahawa) is some 265 km from west of Kathmandu. It is the administrative headquarters of Rupandehi District. Siddharthnagar (Siddhartha is Lord Buddha’s given name) is the gateway to Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha. Lumbini is situated 22 km to the west of Siddharthnagar. The Gautam Buddha Airport is about three kilometers from the city center and there are regular daily flights to and from Kathmandu.

Fifteen kilometers northeast of Siddharthnagar near Khairhani village is an archeological site called Devedaha that is associated with the Koliyas, the tribe of Lord Buddha's mother. The Koliya tribe is believed to be one of only eight tribes to receive the corporeal relics after Lord Gautam Buddha’s demise at Kushinagar. Twenty kilometers east of Siddharthnagar is a place called Ramagrama with the remains of a stupa and monastery on the banks of the Jahari River. The stupa mound has a 20-meter diameter and is about 10 meters high. This finding has led some to suggest that Ramagrama could have been the center of the Koliya kingdom. Forty kilometers west of Siddharthnagar and 18 kilometers beyond Lumbini is Kapilvastu which was in ancient times, the kingdom of the Shakyas, the clan of Lord Buddha. Many archaeological sites have been discovered nearby.

About three and a half kilometers away from Siddharthnagar is the border town of Sunauli from where Gorakhpur, a large Indian town, can be reached in two hours. Gorakhpur has a large train junction from where one can travel to all corners of India including Delhi (12-18 hrs) and Kolkata (10-12 hrs). The Siddhartha Highway takes one to neighboring Nepali towns like Butwal and Tansen. In Butwal, the highway connects with the East-West Mahendra Highway which connects the entire length of the country.

Birgunj—Business as Usual

Birgunj is adjacent to Raxaul of Bihar (India). Once a typically rough border town, Birgunj has gone on to develop as the commercial hub of Nepal. It is often said that no business worth its name can do without having an office in this bustling business town. This is not to say that Birgunj has become totally free from the ills that accompany any border town that neighbors one of the more volatile regions of that country. However, on the whole, Birgunj and its inhabitants are more busy doing business than anything else thus leaving precious little time to worry about less productive things.

As the crow flies, Birgunj is very close to Kathmandu. Almost all domestic airlines have regular flights to Simara, some 20 km from Birgunj, and the flights are hardly of 20-minute duration. By road, it’s about a 300-kilometer drive, that is, roughly five hours by car. It’s more or less a pleasant journey with the Trishuli River accompanying you most of the way. You’ll probably see people rafting on this serene river which has nevertheless, been a watery grave for quite a few buses, trucks and other smaller vehicles that have had unfortunate accidents on the highway and tumbled over the edge.

The old Tribhuvan Highway is another way you can reach Birgunj from Kathmandu; it might be in a dilapidated state but it is quite a bit shorter and you get to see some awesome sights since this road is a typical mountain road that climbs up and up before climbing down later. There’s still another shorter way to reach Birgunj from the Capital, but this road, which goes through the Kulekhani reservoir, is for those in a tearing hurry and with a strong heart.

The about 25 km. area between Pathalaiya (near Simara) and Birgunj is referred to as an industrial corridor with numerous factories and warehouses lining both sides of the road. Naturally enough, a lot of heavy vehicles ply this corridor and go onwards either to the rest of the country to deliver goods or to the border near Raxaul to carry in raw materials and other things like machineries and so forth. Birgunj itself is quite a large and sprawling town with lots of hotels and shopping outlets. Lots of customers come from Bihar to do their shopping here and lots of Nepalis go across the border to Raxaul to do their shopping there!

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Nepal’s Most Popular Treks

Nepal is often touted as a trekker’s paradise. And, this is the truth, and the whole truth, as thousands of trekkers will vouch. Blessed with abundant natural scenery, great ecological diversity and an ancient culture, trekking in Nepal is a wish that many all over the world would like to fulfill at least once in their lifetime. This is of course, aside from the thousands of mountain climbers who have, and will continue, to come to Nepal to conquer some of the high Himalayan peaks, including of course, Mount Everest (8,848 m). However, for those not so inclined, but looking for adventure nonetheless, Nepal beckons one and all to come and trek on its fantastic mountain trails and experience varied lifestyles of those who live in the hills and mountains of this small but scenic country.

That said, here are the things you will need for a 10 day trek: jeans or slacks, woolen shirt, woolen sweater, woolen socks, shorts and T shirts, walking shoes, parka, poncho, gloves, hat, towel and toilet kit, sleeping bag, rucksack, water bottle, flashlight and pocket knife. These are the basics; you can depend upon most trekking agencies to provide waterproof tents, mattresses and utensils. Beside able guides of course. Here then is a list of Nepal’s most popular treks.

Everest Base Camp Trek is the most popular trek in Nepal. The trail leads from the airfield of Lukla through villages and forests and across high suspension bridges. Rest awhile at bustling Namche Bazaar. From Tengboche, you will get a close up view of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and Ama Dablam. From Gorakhshep, go to Kala Patthar. Above the tree line you will reach Base Camp high on the Khumbu Glacier.

Annapurna Circuit Trek is a rewarding trek. After driving down to Besisahar, the trail follows the Marsyangdi River. On the way, one is treated to the imposing view of Annapurna II, III and IV on the trail from Pisang to Manang. Snow-white ridges make for a magnificent panorama from the Thorung Pass at 5,416 meters, while down below is the Kali Gandaki Gorge, the world’s deepest gorge. A long descent downhill takes you to Muktinath and Jomsom, renowned for its apple orchards. Next, hike up to Ghorepani where the sunrise and sunsets from Poon Hill are rejuvenating. Then, walk down to Pokhara, where the Macchapucchre Himal towers over the city and its tranquil lake throughout the day.

Mustang Trek takes you to Mustang which has an aura of mysterious romance. Fly to Jomsom via Pokhara, then take the trail to Kagbeni. Climbing out of the river valley of Chele, you will come across interesting Tibetan style flat roofed houses, some with sheep horns above doorways, amulets to guard against evil spirits. Onwards to Charang with its rolling fields, willow trees and houses separated from each other by stone walls, and large dzongs and gompas. Mustang lies at the end of the Kali Gandaki beyond the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges and consists of Lower Mustang, inhabited by people related to the Mananges, whereas, in northern Mustang (the ancient kingdom of Lo) the languages and the customs are of purely Tibetan origin.

Imjatse (Island Peak) Climb (20 days): This is the trek that can claim to have it all – from the high valleys and glaciers of Khumbu to the classic Everest view and the ascent of a Himalayan peak. Fly into Lukla from where begins this unique trek that takes you first to Phakding along the Dudh Kosi, meeting on the way, long lines of yak caravans ferrying trekking equipments and other supplies. Onwards to culturally rich Namche Bazaar, abode of the Sherpas, and Tengboche, with its magnificent view of the mighty Himalayan peaks. Then it’s on to Kala Patthar from where you will get a view of Everest so profound, you will be literally left breathless. The trail carries on to Dingboche and Chhukung and beyond these, along moraine and glaciers streams to Imjatse Base Camp from where you ascend the summit ridge of Imjatse Peak (6,189 meters).

Ghalegaun Village Trek (10 days): Trek through the villages of the honey hunters of Nepal. A pristine area, newly opened up for tourism, the stunning landscape and the gorgeous view of the Annapurna region would be reason enough to make it a favorite trekking destination. But as if that wasn’t enough, one also gets the golden opportunity to mingle with local Gurung families and become part of the local village life. The region is home to the famous honey hunters of Nepal. The trek starts after a drive down to Besisahar, from where the trail leads to Khudi along the Marsyangdi River and then to Ghalegaun from where the sunset-view of Annapurna and Manaslu is simply riveting. Then, trek down to Ghanpokhara and Bhujung with its cascading waterfalls and rhododendron forests before climbing again to Khumre Danda in Pasgaun. The descent down to the Mandi River takes you to Pakhrikot and Thumsikot and then back to Pokhara.

Short Treks and Hikes

· Annapurna Sanctuary Trek – 9 days

· Jomsom – Muktinath Trek – 8 days

· Everest View Trek – 7 days

· Annapurna Ghorepani Trek – 5 days

· Kathmnandu Valley Sightseeing ( Kathmandu, Patan, Bhaktapur) – 2 days

· Valley Rim Trek (Kathmandu, Dhulikhel, Nagarkot, Bhaktapur) – 4 days

· Bandipur (Cultural Sightseeing) - 2days

· Chitwan National Park (Cultural Sightseeing) – 2 days

· Lumbini – Kathmandu Overland – 8 days

· Helambu Trek - 7 days

· Jomsom Trek (Jomsom, Marpha, Kagbeni) – 4 days

In conclusion, it must be said that trekking in Nepal is an adventure of a lifetime, one that will remain as your fond memory for years to come. Nepal treks are well organized, relatively economical, and truly rejuvenating. Oh yes, come and experience some of Nepal’s most popular treks and live life anew!

Nepali Women Everest Summiteers

Mount Everest (8,848m) in Nepal was conquered for the first time by a member of the fairer sex when Junko Tabei (born September 22, 1939) from Japan reached the summit via the South-East Ridge route on May 16, 1975. The diminutive Tabei, standing not taller than 5 ft, and a mother of two children, on top of the world’s highest mountain standing tall at 29,028ft—a dramatic feat indeed! Tabei went on to be the first woman to have climbed the summits of the highest peaks on all seven continents in 1992. Her feats have inspired many women, includes a number of Nepali women, to follow suit. Till date, the number of women to have set foot on Mount Everest is about 90y and these include some brave Nepali women as well, some of whom are mentioned below.

Pasang Lhamu Sherpa (born Dec 10, 1961) became only the 17th woman and the first Nepali woman to reach the summit of the world’s highest peak on April 22, 1993. Five Sherpas, Sonam Tshering, Lhakpa Noru, Pemba Dorje and Dawa Tashi accompanied her; Sonam fell fatally ill at the south summit and died. The weather turned so bad on their way down that Pasang too lost her life on the south summit and her body was recovered 21 days later just 72 meters below the mountaintop.

Pemba Doma Sherpa, as leader of the “Millennium Everest Expedition”, became the first Nepali woman to climb Mount Everest via its north face in 2000. She also became only the second woman to summit from both the north and south faces. Having achieved her sixth ascent in 2007, she holds the record for most successful attempts by any woman. However, while descending Lhotse, the world’s fourth highest peak. her life met a tragic end when she fell from a height of 8,000 metres.

Ming Kipa Sherpa climbed Everest on May 24, 2003 from the Tibetan side and in doing so, she became the world’s youngest person to have ever achieved this feat. Her climbing from the Tibetan side was due to the fact that the Nepal government did not allow climbers less than 16 years of age to climb Everest. Her sister Lhakpa Chiri and her 24-year-old brother Mingma Gyalu, were also part of the expedition.

Lhakpa Chiri climbed Everest thrice, twice from the Tibetan side, and once from the southern side and thus went down in the record books as the only woman to climb Everest thrice. Her first was on May 18, 2000 as a member of the first all Sherpa women expedition. She conquered Everest again the following year, at the age of 29. She ascended the summit for the third time on May 22, 2003, 50 years after the first conquest of Everest by the Tenzing and Hillary.

Moni Mulepati is the first non-Sherpa NepalI woman to summit Everest on May 30, 2005. She married her climbing partner Pemba Dorjee Sherpa and so also became the first woman to be married on the summit! She was 24 years old then while her husband was 23.

Maya Sherpa has not only climbed Everest twice, but has also climbed numerous other challenging peaks such as Ama Dablam 6,812 m, Pumori 7,112 m, Cho Oyu 8,211 m and Khan Tengri 7,010 m. She summited Everest from the north and south sides.

The ‘First Inclusive Women Sagarmatha Expedition 2008 Spring’ (FIWSE) was assembled in 2008, by Pemba Dorje Sherpa (who holds the record for climbing Everest in eight hours) to. Ten women, aged between 17 and 30, from various ethnicities and backgrounds were included in the expedition. They included: Sushmita Maskey (28), Shailee Basnet (25) Asha Kumari Singh Chaudhary (25), Chunu Shrestha (27), Nima Doma Sherpa (17), Pema Diki Sherpa (22), Pujan Acharya (25), Maya Gurung (28), Ngabhang Phuti Sherpa (33), and Usha Bist (24). They reached the summit of Mount Everest in May, 2008. Since then, other Nepali women climbers too have succeeded in reaching the peak of the highest mountain on earth, and in the process they too have become brave conquerors of Mount Everest.

Nepali Organic Food

Nepali Organic Food

According to a report in The Independent, U.K., a review by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine of scientific studies (of the last 50 years) on organic food compelled the reviewers to conclude that organic food does not have any significant advantage over normal food. This, however, holds no meaning for millions of health conscious people. For them, organic is the way to go. In Nepal too, organic food is finding an increasing number of followers and the interest in Nepali organic food is growing stronger by the day.

Samir Newa, founder of The Organic Village in Baluatar, Kathmandu, is generally credited for bringing organic farming into the limelight in the country. The Organic Village was founded in 2003 with the aim of not only growing chemical free food, but also of creating public awareness about the benefits of organic food. The Organic Village is supported by development agencies like UNDP, Winrock International, GTZ, Micro Enterprise Development Program, Small Grants Program,

The Organic Village works in partnership with local farmers and provides them with a self-sustainable approach to farming besides secure markets. The Organic Village also serves as an information center where farmers, students and researchers can come and make use of the available resources. Their products are sold in various parts of the capital and some cities like Narayanghat and Pokhara through their own outlets as well as through department stores and other retailers.

The Organic Village’s products include rice, lentils, jams, beans, honey as well as different vegetables and fruits and dairy and meat products. Most of the products are grown in mountainous places like Jumla, Humla and Mustang. According to Samir Newa, foods grown at high altitude contain less fat than those grown in warm regions. Some premium products of The Organic Village are Jumli Marsi Rice from Jumla (grown at 2500 m); Kalo Dal (black lentils) from Rasuwa (grown above 2000 m); red rice and yellow rice from Humla; frog meat (called ‘paha’). All together, The Organic Village gets its products from 33 districts of the country. It has recently begun exporting organic products of Nepal to the United Kingdom, the Unites States, South Africa and Qatar.

There are of course, other Nepali organic food companies. One such is Kheti Bazar, an organic retail establishment with a café established by a well-known businessman, Bharat Basnet. Kheti Bazaar is located on the courtyard of Bhojan Griha Restaurant in Dilli Bazaar of Kathmandu which is also owned by Basnet. Kheti Bazaar only opened a couple of years ago but has already garnered quite a reputation as a store with perhaps the most diverse selction of Nepali organic products. Products are classified as OP, meaning organic-in-process (the grower has stopped using chemical fertilizers for less than three years), O, meaning Organic (grown for more than three years without chemical fertilizers) and DO, meaning Default Organic (products are from extremely remote places where chemical fertilizers have never been introduced). In addition to many others, the more popular products at Kheti Bazaar (all of which have been grown the organic way) include vegetables, lentils, white rice, brown rice, coffee, tea, cheese, pesto, fresh spices and dried spices as well as Nepal’s only certified organic apples (grown in Mustang). On Saturday mornings, you can also buy organic croissants and breads.

The 1905 Restaurant in Kantipath, Kathmandu, holds a weekly Farmers’ Market where one can get a variety of delectable Nepali organic food. These include three varieties of artisan cow’s milk cheeses—Tomme, St. Marcellin and Ricotta— produced by Frenchman Francois Driard’s company called Himalayan French Cheese. You can also buy a large selection of organic vegetables and fruits produced by Fresh Organic Farms (established in 1970 by an American) as well as artisan cow’s milk cheeses produced by Italian Sandro Serafini’s Himal Farm. His products include fresh-milk mozzarella, smoked cheese, soft fresh cheese, charcuterie, sausages, boar meat and burger patties.

While all this paints a rosy picture of Nepal’s organic farming scenario, it is a fact that organic farming is not as widespread as wished for. This is something that needs to be addressed because more than 75% of the populace is dependent on agriculture for their livelihood and organic farming could give them better returns as the demand is good and organically grown foods do command better prices. According to experts, the investment is also much less than in farming using modern methods (fertilizers, pesticides, et al). And, of course, organic farming will help the environment significantly. But still, all said and done, Nepal is seeing a growing interest in organic foods. This is apparent when you see the growing number of restaurants in the Kathmandu serving dishes made only from Nepali organic food.