Nepal Handmade Paper Association, GTZ, HNCC and NSCFP are conducting a research program from December 2005 to develop an alternative method of mass production of Lokta through tissue culture. The outcome is positive and Production of seedlings of Lokta through Tissue culture for Field Plantation is in progress.

Experienced scientists of Nepal are getting good results in tissue culture protocal development of lokta. A report on December 2008 says that the mature culture bottles of this plant acclimatized in glass house of National Botanical Garden Godawari for rooting and after a week Lokta plants transformed in sand for rooting. Similarly several numbers of Lokta plants transplanted to sand box, roots found visible in several plants and few rooted plants transferred in poly bag.

Source: http://www.handpass.org/index.php?option=com_flippingbook&book_id=1&Itemid=63

In Nepal the production of handicraft is an age old occupation. Novel handicrafts are also developed in harmony with changing market taste. In the last 30 years, exports of handicraft have been growing. Thus the development of handicraft in one hand helps the conservation of national heritage of country and in other hand it also contributes to alleviate poverty by creating opportunities to Nepalese people. Nepal’s handicraft provides employment to hundreds of thousands of local people. It is also a major source of foreign revenue which is greatly needed for the import of basic necessities as well as development of infrastructures.

Nepal Handmade Paper Association (HANDPASS) registered NEPALOKTA Trade Mark in European Union with cooperation of GTZ/PSP-RUFIN on September 20, 2007 as the property of Nepal Handmade Paper Association. The trademark guaranties quality product produced in standard conditions. The trademark establishes the brand image for Nepali handmade paper in international market.

Nepal Handmade Paper Association has received a grant project from European Commission to run a four year project (2009- 2012) entitled “Enhancement of Sustainable Production of Lokta Handmade Paper Production in Nepal”. The association is the lead organization to run the project for the benefit of the entire handmade paper sector and supported by GTZ/ INCLUDE for its implementation.

As per the agreement with the European Commission on December 18, the project will be initiated from January 15, 2009 and will be concluded by the end of December, 2012. The project is focused on the following areas of handmade paper sector:

• Proper method of lokta collection to make handmade paper production a sustainable and environmentally friendly sector.
• Proper methods of paper production in the hills and mountains making it environmentally positive industry and to create better income for marginalized farmers of hills and mountains by reducing cost of production and improvement of the quality of their output
• Development of tissue culture of lokta for sustainable supply of the raw material
• Enhancing the capacity of entrepreneurs, involved in handmade paper sector, for quality paper product
• To support micro, small and medium enterprises for making them environmentally responsible enterprise
• Expansion of Nepalese paper market in global market by participating in different trade fairs and organizing buyer seller meet in Kathmandu.

The project of Euro 1.4 Million is mainly funded by European Commission with 90% contribution. The balance amount of the project has to be funded by GTZ and the association.

The project will cover 18 districts reaching about 30,000 marginalized farmers for proper extraction of lokta. More than 300 micro units of 18 districts involved in handmade paper production will be reached to improve their paper production technique, for lowering input cost and improved quality. More than 50 SMEs engaged in producing different paper products will be supported to increase their quality and design. There will be participation in eight trade fairs mainly in European Union. Buyer seller meet will be organized in Nepal to increase market. Tissue culture techniques will be developed for lokta plantations. It is also expected that Nepal Handmade Paper Association will be strengthened to make it better organization for supporting its members after the completion of the project.

The project is going to be officially launched on 19 Jan, 2009 in the presence of Honourable Minister of Industry Astha Laxmi Sakya along with the representative of European Commission Mr. Alexender Spatich and Mr. Horst Amnman from GTZ.

Source: http://www.handpass.org/

The hand-made paper is prepared in the traditional way from the bark of Daphne Cannabina commonly known as LOKTA an under-storey shrub which grows in the middle mountains of Nepal. Hand Made Lokta Paper of Nepalese made by an ancient art that has remained unchanged for over generations.

Lokta paper is acid free and extremely durable and is environmental friendly.

These beautiful papers are used for picture framing, art supplies, book making, displays, wall paper and many other wonderful and greeting purposes.

This paper is gathered and processed in an ecologically sound way and is renowned for its exceptional durability natural resistance to insect attacks and special texture.

Steps involve in process of making lokta paper:

Peeling Off The Lokta Barks
Washing The Lokta
Boiling The Lokta For Softening
Cutting And Grinding of Lokta
Mixing With Water For Lokta Solution
Boiling the Lokta for softening
Filling the Frame To Take Water Out
Frame With Lokta Liquid Is Dried In Sun
Dried Lokta Paper Sheets Are Taken Off The Frame
Dried Lokta Sheet Papers Are Stalked
Filtering out the water
Ready to dry up in the sun
Drying up in the sun
Drying Up
Taking out the lokta sheets
Piled lokta paper

You can watch the short video below:

The government’s decision to resume the use of handmade Lokta paper in government documentation and citizenship certificate generated high hopes but there is no domestic market for it yet.

On March 9, 2009 when the government decided to reuse Lokta paper after an interval of 11 years it brought great hope to the people related to the Lokta paper industry. “Along with the decision there started mass production of Nepali handmade paper but compared to the production there was no demand in the market,” said Dr Milan Dev Bhattarai, director of Get Paper Industries.

According to Bhattarai, during the six-month period handmade paper worth Rs 180-200 million was produced but there was no market. “The demand in the domestic market is lacking but the export quantity is constant,” added Bhattarai. Annually, handmade paper worth Rs 300 million is exported, with the export volume remaining constant. At present, there are 55,000 families directly and indirectly involved in the handmade paper sector in the value chain.

“The lack of demand is not only due to pending use of Lokta paper in government documents, it is also because of lack of product diversification and market identification at the domestic level,” Bhattarai said.

From 2009, in coordination with EU and GTZ, Switch Asia Project is running in 22 districts to train people in rural areas for quality production of Lokta paper. “Along with the training programme being conducted in rural areas of the country the paper quality has increased. However, there is no demand growth in the market,” said Kiran Dangol, vice-president of Federation of Handicraft Association of Nepal (FHAN).

He added that there is a need for direct interaction between the buyers and sellers. “Focusing on that problem, we are trying to organise direct marketing programme and inform people about product development,” said Dangol.

In Kathmandu Valley, there are 40-50 Lokta paper exporters and about 25 per cent of the total Lokta paper produced for export is consumed in the local market. The cabinet on March 9, 2009 decided to resume the use of Lokta paper, giving it a fresh lease of life.

Source: http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Lokta+paper+lacks+domestic+market&NewsID=219643
Updated on: 2010-01-07 11:01 PM

Nepali handmade lokta paper is an environmentally friendly and sustainable resource that is harvested and produced naturally. The bark of lokta is harvested by hand without destroying the plant and the Lokta bush naturally regenerates, reaching full maturity again in six to seven years.

The making of Nepali handmade lokta paper is an ancient skill passed down through generations, and starts with villagers gathering the lokta inner bark in the forest. They carry the bark back to the village, where local paper makers wash it in a stream. The fibre is then put into large oil drums and the inner bark is boiled.

The softened bark is washed and cut into small pieces and cooked again. The soft, cooked bark is placed on a flat stone and beaten to a fine pulp with wooden mallets. Water is then mixed with the pulp to form a homogeneous emulsion. The whole process is done by hand, as there is no electricity in the villages.

When the pulp is ready, it is sent to a village close to Kathmandu. This pulp mixture is then diluted and poured over a fine cotton mesh screen that floats on a pool of water. The frame is gently shaken to spread the pulp evenly and then set to dry in the sun. Once the mixture has dried, the sheet of paper is peeled off the frame.

This paper is free from any chemical treatments and no bleach or chlorine is used in its making. It is totally natural. Lokta paper is wood free and can be recycled. Lokta paper is not made from recycled or waste paper materials. And it gives work to many mountain villages who prepare the fibre for paper making.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Handmade-Paper—How-Lokta-Paper-is-Made-in-Nepal&id=2302633