RECOFTC supports women-led nettle enterprise in western Nepal

RECOFTC Nepal, through the WISIONS Innovation Lab project, is supporting a group of women in Nisikhola, a rural municipality in western Nepal, to reestablish their stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) processing business. Nettle powder, derived from the dried leaves of stinging nettle, has multiple culinary, health and cosmetic uses.

We are collaborating with Raithane Agriproducts Nepal, a community-to-business enterprise, working together to strengthen the market aspects of the Nisikhola nettle group. As a preliminary step, we brought together 10 members of the local women’s group from 2 to 5 February 2025 at a training event on business operations.

On the first and second days, we conducted a SWOT analysis, looking at the enterprise’s existing governance structure in relation to established good governance requirements. We covered various technical, social and environmental aspects, and discussed the group’s data management and record keeping requirements.

On the third day, we focused on business planning. The final day of the event was spent in coordination meetings with the rural municipality and other stakeholders. This and subsequent discussions were successful in generating buy-in from local government.

Stinging nettle leaves are dried and processed into nettle powder, which has culinary, health and cosmetic uses.

The training was part of the ‘Reviving the Sisno Powder Enterprise’ initiative being implemented by RECOFTC Nepal through the WISIONS project. We are working to demonstrate a feasible commercial business model for non-timber forest products (NTFPs) from sustainably managed community forests. In this case, the NTFP is nettle powder.

Since the February event, the Nisikhola rural municipality has agreed to provide a fund of USD 1,450 to the nettle group for the repair, maintenance and purchase of machinery and equipment. A memorandum of understanding is currently in the works.

At the enterprise level, a committee has been formed to look at the group’s operations, including meeting legal requirements. A constitution that maintains the rules for operations and business planning is also being drafted.

The nettle powder business – officially registered as the Nishikhola Sisno Powder Micro-enterprise in 2014 – has been dormant since 2019. It was originally established by a 17-member committee but floundered after the COVID-19 pandemic. As all transportation and sales came to a halt, the business shut down. Our current efforts are aimed at supporting the local women’s group in reestablishing the enterprise.