By Nisha Rai, Dharan, Oct 29: Manita Ghimire, a resident of Dharan
Sub-metropolitan City-15, has earned a decent livelihood by producing soap from
vegetation available at her locality.
She learnt
soap making in a training held in Kathmandu some seven years ago and knew she could make soap from herbage
available around her home in Dharan.
Ghimire shared that it was advantageous especially for women as they can make it at home and sell it from one's own residence.
Presently,
Ghimire uses Titepati (mugwort), carrot leaves, charcoal, Neem (Margosa Tree) leaves
and honey to make bathing soap which can also be used as face wash.
In the
beginning, I made only the face wash from carrot, but now as the demand for
soap is high, I make soap only.
She said that profit ratio is about 40% in her business and that with the income she runs her house as well as personal expenses.
Soap gets
ready by evening if you mix ingredients in the morning and set in the disc and
it takes about 3 to 4 days for drying.
She has also
become a trainer now.
Ghimire shared a soap of her production is sold at Rs. 175 and that the one made by honey which is only 70 gram in weight coasts Rs. 150.
She sells
her production which is of local flora through online and by keeping stalls in
local fairs.
Self-employed Ghimire suggested that many people can have a good source of livelihood without having to go away for jobs by using locally available vegetation to make soap if local levels take initiative for training.