Herbal oil from Ilam reaches international markets

MANGALBARE (ILAM), JANUARY 30: Herbal oil produced in Ilam is now being exported abroad. The oil from Nityaraj Dahal’s industry, located in Maijogmai Rural Municipality, has started reaching international markets, primarily France.

Dahal, who established the industry 13 years ago, shared that since last year, locally sourced herbal oils and medicinal herbs have been exported internationally.

“Our industry extracts oil from locally available herbs such as Mugwort, Juniper, Peppermint, and Spikenard. The refined oils from these herbs have started being exported,” said Dahal. “We are also preparing to produce oils from geranium, wild marigold, and rosemary in the near future. Foreign buyers highly value Nepal’s natural products, so we produce based on demand.”

As a follower of Osho, Dahal mentioned that many foreigners visiting Nepal for meditation have shown interest in these products. “At first, they purchased the oils casually. But once they learned about their benefits, they started appreciating them more. Seeing our products sell well has been encouraging,” he added.

Currently, Juniper Oil sells for NPR 2,500 per kilogram, Mugwort Oil for NPR 6,000 per kilogram, Peppermint oil for NPR 7,000 per kilogram, and Spikenard oil for NPR 7,000 per kilogram. Dahal cultivates various medicinal plants on 35 ropanis of land and also sources raw materials from local farmers.

“We visit farmers directly to purchase their produce, paying NPR 8 per kilogram for Juniper and NPR 4 per kilogram for Mugwort. This initiative has benefited local farmers as well,” he said.

Local resident Keshav Dahal highlighted that unused land in the village is being effectively utilized for commercial production.

The herbal oils produced here are widely used to treat colds, coughs, sore throats, and joint pain, as well as for massaging injuries and relieving back pain.