From Weeds to Wealth: Transforming Invasive Weeds into Biochar for Nepalese Farmers

This program mirrors an ongoing initiative in Kenya, where the PlantVillage Dream Team is successfully converting Prosopis juliflora into tons of biochar.

Invasive weeds, much like Prosopis juliflora in northern Kenya, have emerged as a serious threat in Nepal. They endanger the agricultural potential of the country's fields and impede food production—a critical aspect of Nepal's economy, which heavily relies on farming.

The PlantVillage Nepal Dream Team is currently working in close collaboration with community members in Rupandehi, a region characterized by plains, and Lamjung, a hilly area. Their mission is to eliminate Lantana camara and Ageratina adenofora.

In both locations, officers have already amassed a substantial amount of biomass, which will undergo drying before being burned in kilns to generate biochar.

This undertaking has received tremendous support from officers and staff members from the forest departments.

Prabhat Sapkota, the head of Division Forest Office in Rupandehi, expressed his admiration for PlantVillage's comprehensive plan. He highlighted the organization's commitment not only to eradicating the weeds but also to utilizing them effectively in the long run.

"PlantVillage's program appears to be highly efficient. We, as a department and as a community, are ready to lend a helping hand. Furthermore, we are committed to providing the necessary information to ensure the success of this initiative," Sapkota stated.

Sandeep Basukola, the information officer of Division Forest, once believed that eradicating the weeds was an insurmountable challenge.

"We have encountered organizations that promised to eliminate these weeds but left without accomplishing the task. Despite our collaborative efforts with them, the weed problem remains unresolved," Basukola lamented.

The biochar produced through this project will be showcased to farmers during field days, following the charging process.

Dr. David Hughes, the founder and director of PlantVillage, emphasized that this project will not only benefit Nepal's agricultural community but also serve as a testing ground for the idea of capturing and storing carbon for prolonged periods to safeguard soil and enhance food production.

PlantVillage aims to store a billion or more metric tons of durable carbon in the soil each year. This approach provides a promising alternative to donor funding and ensures sufficient resources to combat climate change in Third World countries.