Manita making good livelihood by producing soap from local herbage

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.