Rong branding sisno after gundruk

By Prem Adhikari,Pshupatinagar, July 26:The Rong Municipality of Ilam is going to brand generations-old indigenous dish, sisno (nettle).   

The rural municipality has made the decision to brand the indigenous herb, which grows abundantly in hilly regions and is readily available everywhere. 

This decision follows the successful branding of gundruk and sinki (fermented leafy green vegetables), two other traditional products. The policy for branding sisno was recently approved by the rural municipal assembly. 

The rural municipality has unveiled the plan in recognition of its potential to fetch a good price in the market. 

Over the past six months, the rural municipality has been actively collecting and processing green leafy vegetables from local farmers' fields with the help of cooperatives, transforming them into packets of gundruk. Manikumar Syangbo, the chairman of the rural municipality, said the brand 'Rong Gundruk' is gaining popularity in Nepali supermarkets. 

Additionally, there is also a high demand for this product in America, he added. 

The successful branding and market reach have made it a sought-after item both locally and internationally, said Syangbo. 

"Following the successful marketing of 'gundruk,' they are now planning to focus on branding another traditional product called 'sisno'", he said.  

Syangbo said this move is expected to directly benefit the farmers, potentially contributing to their prosperity. 

He also highlighted that apart from its market success, the gundruk is known to be highly nutritious. 

Vice-chair of the rural municipality Bishnu Maya Khawas said they laid out a plan to produce both sisno and ‘Rong gundruk’ using the same infrastructure, given they can be packaged and processed in the same plant.  

The programme is expected to be highly effective because the beetles, being cultivated, are not being destroyed by monkeys in the planting area. 

Chairman Sangbo said the success of the sisno branding programme is attributed to two crucial factors: the easy availability of raw materials and the high demand for the product. 

The rural municipality has announced that they have commenced the technical study for the branding of sisno, and that its implementation will begin shortly. 

According to Dipendra Dahal, the chief administrative officer, they have already initiated the necessary preparations for branding sisno and have allocated the required budget through the village assembly.

The rural municipality is optimistic about the market potential of sisno, considering it to be a productive plant that can be readily embraced by both Nepali and international markets.  Syangbo said they would rigorously initiate marketing efforts alongside the production of sisno.

During his initial year in office, the rural municipality successfully produced gundruk and introduced it to the market, he added.  

"This year, we are further expanding our branding efforts by introducing 'Rong Honey' alongside sisno. While sisno is readily available throughout the village, the quantity available for sale in the market is currently insufficient," said Syangbo.