Buddha Chitta seeds change rural Nepal ^{CEFR B2}

The market for Buddha Chitta seeds originated after a reported endorsement by the Dalai Lama and growing demand from buyers in China. The seeds come from Ziziphus budhensis trees that grow well on small farms in gravel and sandy soil. Trees reach 8–10 meters, begin fruiting in the third year and can produce for up to 90 years. Fruit is picked in June and July, then processed by removing the hard outer coat with a Dhiki or by boiling, followed by washing and sun-drying.

Beads are graded by the number of faces and by size; one-faced beads and 7–8 mm beads are the rarest and most valuable. Local middlemen say a 108-bead mala can cost NPR 1.5 million (over USD 10,630). Saplings sell for about NPR 500, rising to NPR 1,000 for higher-face varieties. Farmers normally sell to local middlemen, who then sell to Chinese traders; direct contact is rare because of language and access barriers.

The boom has brought both income and risk. Some farmers profited greatly: Singha Bahadur Lama reported earning NPR 10 million from one tree, using the money to build houses and send his daughter abroad, and later advising others as a consultant. But markets are volatile: Lama says he invested nearly NPR 10 million after a boom year and then lost 70 percent when prices fell. There have also been criminal incidents linked to the trade, including the cutting of a tree in Rosi that had earned NPR 30 million the year before, the planting of socket bombs, and arrests with heavy bail. In another case, a plastic 7 mm cover was tried to change seed size; the attempt failed and the plant died.

Farmers worry about unstable prices and environmental effects of larger plantations. Many households still interplant Buddha Chitta with maize, vegetables and legumes to protect soil health and household income. Some families also report bad harvests after hailstorms or from early use of fertilizers and chemicals that damaged the trees.