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The Mountain Hazelnut Venture (MHV) is social venture, a Foreign Direct Investment organization located in Lingmethang, Mongar District in Pristine Bhutan. The project combines the profit motive of private investors with conservation, through reforestation of abandoned farmland, with livelihood enhancement of thousands of subsistence farmers who will benefit from this new cash crop and improve the general standard of living through increased Gross Domestic Product. It is also focused on balancing Rural-Urban Migration. It is a dedicated team of agricultural, business, and development professionals determined to build a world-class, triple bottom-line venture and become a major player in the global hazelnut market.

Vision
22,000 acres of Bhutan’s mountainsides will be dark green, resplendent with 10 million hazelnuts trees, having been transformed from erosion-prone, deforested slopes. During operation year 2012, seven hundred hazelnut trees was planted in pristine land of  Bhutan.

Economic scope


Hitting target of planting 10 million plants could produce about 40,000 tons of premium quality nuts annually for high-end markets in Europe and the US. This would account for about three percent of the world’s hazelnut production. It promises to bring about better economic returns compared to other agri-business. It will be productive under harsh conditions even in poor soil conditions and on fallow land. A hazelnut plant produces about four kg of nuts. One acre of plants produces about two tons of nuts. A farmer with an acre of hazelnut plants is expected to make about Nu 20,000 to Nu 25,000 annually. It could prove more lucrative than cash crops like mandarin and apple which require a lot of management. “It is a win-win situation for all,” farmers will get saplings free, and they will not have to worry about the market. The plantation will enable optimum utilization of barren and fallow land. Hazelnut industry will also open up employment opportunities for school leavers and perhaps check youth drifting to urban centers, which has become a major national issue.

Environmental effect
Massive plantation is looked to fix carbon dioxide from air and also aid in reforestation, reduction of barren and fallow land.

International News

 * 1) Center for Social Innovation - Stanford.
 * 2) Global Exchange – Business 360 - CNN.
 * 3) Happiness and Hazelnuts - Forbes.
 * 4) Mountain Hazelnut Venture | Global Envision.

Local News

 * 1) Hazelnut plantation in full swing | Bhutan Observer.
 * 2) Hazelnut plantation for economic gains | Bhutan Observer.
 * 3) Hazelnut promise excites farmers | Bhutan Observer.