News

OWF makes strides toward PGS in Nepal

28.01.2020

Organic World and Fair Future (OWF), an eco-social company that facilitates pro-poor inclusive value chain development for Nepali mountain products, has been stepping up its efforts to implement a successful Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) in Nepal. As a first step, OWF facilitated the creation of five PGS groups located in different districts of Nepal.

OWF is exchanging knowledge and experiences with local, national and international stakeholders on how to sustainably meet increasing worldwide demand for high-quality, organic Hindu Kush Himalayan products. A PGS specifically designed for mountain agriculture (Mountain PGS) can help small-scale farmers to do so. PGSs certify organic products through an interactive, community-based approach rather than by paying for an expensive third-party certification.

OWF shared knowledge on PGSs with Nepal government officials. The organization facilitated a three-day session of the National Organic Inspectors training, organized by the Agriculture Department of the Government of Nepal. Twenty-three participants from government offices were instructed on quality assurance of smallholder organic farmers in mountain regions. OWF shared the Ranikhet Declaration, which, in April 2019, established the first-ever international network of PGSs designed for smallholder farmers in mountain regions. The declaration was the fruitful outcome of a workshop held by the Mountain Partnership, which involved thirteen representatives of the Mountain Partnership Products initiative, including OWF.

In addition, OWF participated in an interactive program on organic certification held by the Kathmandu Metropolitan Municipality in November 2019.The program focused especially on PGSs;the government recognizes the benefits of PGSs, especially their affordability.

In December, OWF took part in the Regional Symposium on “Organic agriculture: Youth engagement and enterprise development”, organized by ICIMOD and the Government of Bhutan. The conference was part of ICIMOD’s Resilient Mountain Solutions initiative, in collaboration with the Agriculture Research and Development Centre, Yusipang (under the Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Royal Government of Bhutan). OWF was able to broaden its network with new potential collaborators, highlight their products for new audiences and exchange experiences about organic value chains.

In between events and workshops, OWF meets with grassroots partner organizations about how to establish a successful PGS amongst themselves. Current discussions concern options for collaboration with local governmental entities and development actors.

News and photo from Umesh Lama - OWF