High Value Products/Services and Value Chains

1. High Value Products/Services and Value Chains Giridhar Kinhal Team Leader HVP-VCs ICIMOD

2. High Value Products/Services • Promoting the development of mountain high value niche products (e.g. Non-Timber Forest Products, medicinal, aromatic plants, beekeeping) & Services e.g. Tourism

3. High Value Products Comparative Advantages: • Highly diverse resource base in the mountains • Traditional knowledge is available • Less competition with plain areas • High demand for products in emerging markets

4. Value Chain Approach The Value Chain Approach is used as a central tool to identify strategies for income generation and poverty reduction. • Focussing on strengthening rural-urban and highland-lowland linkages through analysis and interventions in pro-poor value chains. • Analysis leads to identification of leverage points for pro-poor interventions • Development of a ‘Pro-poor Mountain Sensitive Value Chain Framework’ Interventions: • Product quality and quantity • Quality control mechanisms and standards (labelling, certification, organic production) • Development of market information systems for mountain producers • Policy change

5. Linking Poor Producers to Markets: Developing Pro-poor Value Chains for Cinnamomum tamala (Bay leaf): ODI/IDRC Thrusts Nepal: Through FECOFUN • Producer groups: Private • Producers: Trader contract • Quality: Local certification India : Through HARC • Government ownership • Women SHGs • Policy readjustments: Harvest area and Mandi system • Equitable allocation of resource

6. “Enhancing Livelihood & Reducing Poverty of Mountain People by Linking High Value Products & Services (HVPS) to Value Chain Development”Ford Foundation • Nepal: Ritha through ANSAB • India : Malta through HARC • Tourism development through • Community participation

7. Thank You