Chiuri (The butter tree of Nepal)
Practical Action
Preharvest selling of the fruit to the traders is common. The traders provide cash according to
requirement of the producers. The producers sell the fruits at NRs 12-14 per 2.8 Kg. (Pathi) and
the ghee is sold at about NRs 65 per kg.
In most of the cases the producers sell the products directly to the traders hence the traders do
not have to pay the transportation costs from area of production to the collection centre. Traders
bear the cost of the packaging which cost them about NRs 10 per bag. Normally the traders store
the Chiuri for almost 2 months probably to remove excess moisture. The traders assure the
quality of the Chiuri before buying. Large size and fleshy Chiuri fruit are considered good quality
whereas off-colour fruit is considered inferior. Traders/middlemen are involved in marketing of
dried chiuri with a profit of Rs 3-4 per pathi (Rs1.25 per kg). During our survey, the average
profit was estimated to be in the range of 10-12 percent.
Some of the consumers in the Chitwan district have been using Chiuri ghee for the last five
decades and most of the households are habitual consumers of ghee. The consumers purchased
ghee directly from the producers at NRs 65 per kg.
Equipment supplier
The equipment required to improve Chiuri ghee processing is as follows. The tentative cost of the
equipment is about NRs 200,000 (£200).
Item
No. Price in NRs
1. Weighing balance (500 kg. capacity)
1 10000/-
2. Weighing balance (10 kg. capacity)
1 5000/-
3. Jute sacks
100 5000/-
4. Oil extraction machinery with 2 hp motor
1 30000/-
5. Automatic packaging plant for plastic pouch)
1 100000/-
6. Miscellaneous
50000/-
Total 200,000/-
Constraints identified
• The processing of the product requires substantial quantity of fuel-wood which leads to
deforestation.
• Low rate of oil extraction by traditional expeller "Chepuwa" which has only 38 percent
recovery.
• Lack of product diversification
• Transportation of fruit on tractor from collection centre to nearest market centre is difficult
during rainy season as the stream becomes impassable during that period.
• The taste of Chiuri product is not familiar among most of the consumers.
• No brand name has been used on the product and packaging has not been done using tin
can. Organised marketing of fruits and its product has to be done.
Suggestions and recommendations
• Intervention of efficient and low cost processing technology has to be made to replace
traditional technology. Quality and quantity of ghee can be improved with a mechanical
expeller as oil content in the chiuri kernel is about 50-70 percent. The rate of extraction by
traditional expeller "Chepuwa "is only 38 percent.
• Training on entrepreneurship building and marketing seems essential for the producers and
processors.
• The potential use of Chiuri and its export to foreign market should be explored.
• Low cost dryer needs to be promoted.
• Research is needed to establish its potential uses in different fields.
• Promotion of Chiuri products in urban areas through a wider marketing networks and
promotion and publicity.
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