Nepal Infrastructure 
MUSTANG: A two-week-long training program for fiber sampling and collection of fiber has been launched in four Rural Municipalities of Mustang district with the objective of determining the quality of Nepali Chyangra Pashmina. This program is the first of its kind in Nepal, aimed at determining the quality of Chyangra fiber through scientific analysis.
Local farmers will be trained in fiber sampling during the first week, while fiber from 800 adults Chyangra goats from 160 selected farms will be collected during the following week. Five adult Chyangra goats will be selected from each farm for sampling purposes.
The EU-Nepal Trade and Investment Programme, funded by the European Union, is conducting the program with technical support from the International Trade Center, in collaboration with Nepal Pashmina Industries’ Association, Changra Pashmina Farmers’ Association, and Nepal Agricultural Research Council.
Lomanthang, Lo-Ghekar Damodarkunda, Baragung, and Gharapihong Rural Municipalities of Mustang have been selected for the training and fiber sampling. This training and sampling are crucial for the scientific study and analysis to determine the quality of pashmina made from Changra fiber produced in Mustang.
Although the demand for Nepali Changra pashmina, which is considered to be of high quality, is increasing in the domestic and global markets, its actual quality has not been scientifically tested. The collected sample will be sent to an internationally accredited laboratory for quality testing.
Dr. Carol Kerven Odessa Centre Limited of the United Kingdom is instructing local farmers in fiber sampling in this training program. “Analysis of samples of fiber is necessary to identify the exact quality of Nepali pashmina. Such training and sampling activities are crucial for strengthening the Nepali pashmina value chain,” said Kerven.
Dhan Prasad Lamichhane, Vice President of the Nepal Pashmina Industries’ Association, who is coordinating the training at the local level, said that the quality of Nepali pashmina will be established in the international market based on the results after the sample analysis in the globally recognized lab. Changra sampling training will run until the 27th of March, while field-based sampling is scheduled to be conducted from the 28th of March to the 5th of April.
