KARNALI: The Karnali Dialogue on the topic ‘Mulyawan Logo: Opportunities, Challenges and Course of Action in Organic Mission’ has started in Birendranagar, the capital of Karnali Province.

The ‘Karnali Dialogue’ has been launched under the Local Food System Transformation Project based on environmental agriculture, organised by the Asian Network for Sustainable Agriculture and Bioresources (ANSAB) and Local Initiatives for Biodiversity Research and Development (LI-BIRD), in coordination with the Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives of the Karnali Province Government.

The Dialogue was inaugurated today by Binod Kumar Shah, Minister of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives of Karnali Province.

In the Dialogue, stakeholders began discussions on the agricultural produce of Karnali, its identification, grading, packaging, branding, marketing, and the opportunities gained, challenges faced, and future course of action regarding the use of the Mulyawan logo for trademark purposes.

Executive Director of ANSAB, Dr Bhishma Prasad Subedi, stated that Karnali, which has launched a valuable logo, has led a state-led organic campaign, emphasising that the dialogue was organised with the aim of preserving and promoting the local traditional knowledge, production and food systems that are considered rich in biodiversity worldwide.

Strategic programme leader of LIBIRD, Rita Gurung, said that the Dialogue will discuss indigenous agricultural products grown in the fields and slopes of Karnali, the need for their identification, the current situation, conservation efforts carried out by government bodies, non-governmental organisations and the private sector, as well as messages about their production, quality, and their marketing in Nepal and the world.

The programme included the participation of the mayors and chairpersons of Tatopani Municipality in Jumla, the Dullu Municipality in Dailekh, and Barahatal Rural Municipality, Gurbhakot, and Bheri Ganga Municipality in Surkhet. Researchers from the agriculture and environmental sectors of Mid-Western University, representatives from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, agriculture-related organisations, industrialists, and businessmen are also participating in the Dialogue.

Essence of Mulyawan Brand

Literally, Mulyawan means valuable, i.e. any agricultural product with intrinsic value of nutrition, health benefit, free of chemical residues and produced with sustainable farming practices.

Since Karnali has less cultivable land, it cannot produce huge amount of agricultural produce but whatever amount is produced has high value due to its intrinsic value as aforementioned. That is why the agriculture ministry has put forward the slogan that “Karnali Sells Value, not the Product”.

The logo was finalized after having an open competition from the public to submit idea on the design of the logo.

The logo has been designed in both English and Nepali language. The notion ‘Heritage of Karnali Farmers’ claims that the farming in Karnali is based on local cultural norms and practices and is related with identity of the society and region.