Mustang, March28 : Wool of Himalayan goats – the raw material of Pashmina – is being collected for quality test in Mustang.
The International Trade Centre is
testing wool quality in Nepal for the first time in coordination with
international pashmina experts, national agriculture research council, Nepal
Pashmina Industries Association and Mountain Goat Pashmina Farmers Association.
Vice-Chairperson of Nepal Pashmina
Industries Association Dhan Prasad Lamichhane said the collected wool samples
would be sent to the internationally- accredited lab and the Nepal Bureau of
Standards and Metrology for testing its commercial quality and standards.
"We are collecting 800 samples
of wool extracted from mountain goats being reared in Lomanthang, Loghekar
Damodarkunda, Waragung Muktichhetra and Gharpajhong Rural Municipalities",
he said, adding sample wool would be taken out from mountain goats of different
colour, age and species reared by 160 farmers of the four rural
municipalities.
Nine trained professionals have
been mobilized to extract wool from mountain goats on the presence of the
representatives from the Association, NARC and international trade centre.
"The quality of Pashmina
affects its market price", said Sichan Shrestha, specialist of
International Trade Centre, adding, "Tthere may be variation in the
quality of wool of Mustang. The quality testing would help develop breed of
mountain goats, carry out research in the field and expand international
marketing of wool.
The wool sample collection being
done in Mustang for the first time would help spell out quality of pashmina
obtained from mountain goats, it is claimed. "Pashmina obtained from
Chyangra is considered to be of good quality. But, official study was not
undertaken taking this aspect into consideration", NARC official
said.
"This would help design breed
development programme being based on the research", the official
added.
As many as 52,00 mountain goats are
being reared in Mustang, the Veterinary Hospital and Livestock Service Expert
Centre, Mustang. (RSS)