Dunatpari production emerges as main source of income in Shuklaphanta

Kanchanpur: For the past four years, Kanyadevi Rana of Kasraul, Shuklaphanta Municipality-6, has been engaged in the production of dunatpari, which has now become the primary source of income for her family.

What began as a small-scale effort to sustain daily living has grown into a significant business, supported by the Sundevi Intermediate Consumers Committee under the buffer zone of Shuklaphanta National Park. The committee provided around Rs 700,000 to purchase a dunatpari-making machine, dye, and facilitate observation tours and basic training.

Rana sources raw materials—sal leaf bundles known as lafa—from locals in Laljhadi, paying between 50 paisa and Rs 2 per bundle. Additional leaves are collected from the Nageshwor Community Forest. Every month, lafa worth Rs 40,000 is purchased. “The prepared leaves are dried and then processed into dunatpari as per demand using the machine,” she explained.

The finished dunatpari, priced between Rs 1 to Rs 5, is produced in five varieties and typically packaged in bundles of 50 or 100 before reaching the market. Demand peaks during religious and cultural events such as weddings, fasts, and pujas. “After expenses, we earn around Rs 30,000 a month,” Rana said, adding that production has not expanded due to a shortage of leaves.

Despite limitations, Rana’s products are supplied to markets in Mahendranagar, Dhangadhi, Dadeldhura, and Attariya, while local vendors selling puja materials purchase in bulk. Orders have even come from Pokhara and Kathmandu, though they could not be fulfilled due to raw material shortages.

Her husband, Ratanlal Rana, supports the enterprise by transporting products and sourcing leaves. “The industry has potential for expansion, but raw materials remain the main challenge,” he noted, highlighting ongoing coordination with the community forest to address the issue.

Sundevi Consumers’ Committee treasurer Habaldar Chaudhary emphasized the environmental benefits of dunatpari. “It should be promoted as an alternative to plastic,” he said, urging local governments to ban plastic-based plates and support eco-friendly alternatives. He added that declaring plastic-free zones would both safeguard the environment and create employment opportunities.

The committee is also working to coordinate with donor agencies for further industry management. An agreement has already been reached with the community forest to facilitate leaf collection.