Coffee plantation:

In the rural village of Kamalabari , the coffee plantation project is already started. 12'000 saplings are currently growing in the new nursery and waiting to be planted. They grow best in the shade of big pine and grass trees. Only a few farmers already have their own plantation comprising up to five coffee trees. After three years, they will harvest between ½ and 1 kg. After 5 years, they can expect up to 8 kg and after 8 years about 10 kg dried coffee beans. A coffee tree produces a good crop for about 10 years, depending on the weather. Right now (May 2009), the farmers could obtain a price of 145 Nprs (US $ 1.93). From the cash crop, 90 % will go to foreign countries like Japan , the UK , USA and France , 10 % remain in the Nepalese market.

One sapling costs about 5 to10 Nprs (US $ 0.13). It is an unpretentious plant that only needs rainwater and no fertilizer. As soon as the coffee tree saplings are planted, they need a mainly bar for protection from animals.

The extra benefits from these trees are:

•  bees get food from the flowers and produce honey;

•  good for the environment as they are evergreen;

•  the coffee and the grass trees have to be cut once regularly, so the green can be used to feed farm     animals;

•  The dead wood can be used as firewood and for cooking.

HECAC sponsors the saplings, mainly bar, tools and if needed help with the planting.

Asparagus:

An innovative local woman began to collect wild-growing asparagus in the forests.

The roots need to be cooked, peeled and dried. One small plant has about 15 small roots of asparagus, a big plant up to five times more. She sells them all at the market for 150 ? 200 Nrps. (US $ 2 ? 2.66) per kg to brokers and collectors.

Asparagus is in great demand, especially with Indian people. They produce medicine, herbal soap and other herbal products from it. Nepali people do not know yet the recipes how to make the different products.

The plantation of asparagus has to be pursued first.

HECAC sponsors the saplings, tools and if needed help with the planting and proper market guidelines.