A recipe demonstration of local and wild edible plants was successfully organized in Ruby Valley, Gangajamuna, and Khaniyabas rural municipalities of Dhading district from 28 Feb-2 March 2023. The objective of the program was to educate and train the local community on ways of integrating the local and underutilized nutritious plants into their daily diets for improved nutrition outcomes. In addition, sensitizing the local policymakers and civil society actors on the importance of local food promotion and utilization was another objective of the event.

The recipes of finger millet, Taro, Potato, Pumpkin, Water Cress (Khole Saag), and edible fern/fiddlehead fern were prepared. The recipes were: कोदाको सेलरोटी (Koda ko selroti), कोदाको नम्किन (Koda ko namkin), कोदाको खजुरी (Koda ko khajuri), खोलेसग र कोदाको पिठाको पकौड (khole saag ko pakauda with the base of Kodo), पिडालुको पात र कोदाको पिठाको पकौडा (taro leaves pakauda), काउलीको पात र कोदाको पिठाको पकौडा (cauli ko pakauda with the base of Kodo), बन्दा र कोदाको पिठाको पकौड (cabbage pakauda with the base of Kodo), आलुको चिप्स (potato chips, pumpkin-pudding), नीगुराको अचार (Nigura ko achar).

The training recipients were mainly cooks from schools, involved in preparing a day-time meal (Diwa Khaja), the Nepal government’s special program along with leader farmers, and female community health volunteers (FCHVs). The training was facilitated by Rekha Sharma Chaudhary, a renowned food entrepreneur. A total of 86 (69 women, 17 men) participated in the recipe demonstration followed by an interactive session on the importance of the local food system.

 A poster on the nutrient content of major crops and underutilized but nutrient-dense plants (both cultivated and wild edible plants) was also presented to highlight the need for the integration of such nutritious crop which is on the verge of disappearance. Participants were happy and surprised at the same time learning that so many different items could be made from crops like finger millet, which is one of the major crops in the area. Aarati Tamang said it was her first eating koda ko Sel roti, Namkin and she found it very tasty. She is determined to add new recipes in her households along with local recipes like “Kodo ko Khole”. Further, the local government witnessed and tasted the food items and appreciate this initiative of promoting local crops. Palika chairs and ward chairs enjoyed the recipes and thanked the LANN+ project team for organizing such unique kinds of programs. Further chief executive Officer of Khaniyabas RM, Mr. Nawaraj Shrestha, said it can be easily included in the menu of Diwa Khaja at schools and said he will fully support the initiative.

The program was organized under the “Advocacy and Strengthening Resilience through Linking Agriculture and Natural Resources Management towards Nutrition, LANN+” project with the coordination concerned rural municipalities. The project is jointly funded by German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and Welthungerhilfe (WHH) and implemented by LI-BIRD in Dhading and Asaman Nepal in Salyan.

You can view more photos of the event through this post: https://bit.ly/3mJ7pru

Watch the video on Nepal Television, covering the event.