(Unpublished bachelor’s thesis). Institute of Forestry, Tribhuvan University, Pokhara.

Authors: Sunta Gautam, Aarati Khatri, Anju Upadhaya

ABSTRACT

Forest-based enterprises are the major source of income for both rural and urban areas and contribute to employment activities in developing countries like Nepal. Under forest-based enterprises, the timber-based forest enterprise such as sawmill and furniture enterprise are one of the important major forest-based enterprises in Nepal which has great potential for generating high revenue and employment opportunities. The COVID-19 has led to dramatic loss of human life worldwide and presents an unprecedented challenge to public health, food systems, and the economy of the world. While COVID-19 is taking hard toll on national economy, forest-based enterprises have not been exception. As being one of the important economic contributors of the country it is important to assess how COVID-19 has impacted on timber-based enterprises and their employment opportunities. For this purpose, questionnaire survey was conducted with 38 enterprises (n=38) and key informant interview were conducted with 10 (N=10) key informants. The collected qualitative and quantitative data be analyzed using computer packages software like- Ms-Excel, SPSS. Descriptive statistics such as mean, standard error as well as inferential statistics such as t-test for comparison study and chi-square test were used to measure the association on the extent of pandemic effect with respect to different. The result shows that due to complete as well as partial lockdown imposed in order to bid to fight against spread of pandemic since Chaitra, 2076 which affected the last four month of FY 2076/77 (Chaitra-Asar), the COVID-19 pandemic had affected on both demand and supply of timber, income of sawmill and furniture enterprises where the demand-supply and income declined by more than 30% in FY 2076/77 in compare to past two FY (2074/75 and 2075/76). 145 workers completely loss their job during lockdown and still after the seven months of end of lockdown 61 workers loss their job in which informal workers were more affected as out of 145 workers, 137 were informal workers while out of 61 workers, 58 were informal workers. The pandemic had also affected on salary of employee and availability of labour to enterprises. The local government must focus on providing training opportunities to local worker to make them capable. The enterprises should be prepared for future disruptions and adapt to new circumstances by making strong strategies from past experience.

Keywords: impacts, COVID-19 , timber-based enterprises, income, demand-supply, labor

For full report: Gautam, S., & Khatri, A. (2021).