Natural fibers are major source of livelihoods and food security for millions of small-scale farmers and processors in the world. This has high economic importance in terms of contribution in GDP for many of developing countries. . However due to the lack appropriate research and information dissemination, only a few species are identified and extracted commercially leaving many more fiber containing species not identified leading to extinct and disappear in future. Thus awareness in harvesting natural fiber is an issue of global concern not only to the producers and industry but also to the consumers, conservationists and the environmentalists.

Celebration of 2009 as the "International Year of Natural Fiber" has grown interest and importance of natural fiber leading to the better market opportunities in local and global arena. Being renewable resource and the carbon neutral, natural fiber products are eco-friendly and also vital to promote in the context of growing global environmental crisis.

 Being basically organic, products from natural fibers are getting attractions through out the world.

Nepal has comparative advantage on fiber containing non-timber forest species. Due to the variation in climate, topography and vegetation, we have diversity and abundance of fiber containing plants that could be utilized to promote micro and small businesses. It is estimated that in Nepal more than 200 thousands family rely on natural fiber for livelihood and they utilize only 15-20 percent out of total of fiber containing plants. We know these readily available local resources have a huge potential for local as well as international market which can invariably foster local economic growth and create green jobs. Thus sustainable utilization of these not only contribute to national economy but also vital to improve economic base of local people.

Traditionally Nepalese people have been extracting fibers from a few known plants for producing fabric, clothes, mattresses, ropes etc. Because of the limited knowledge on availability of such plants and technology and skill to commercialize such fibers we have been loosing its economic value for a long. Hence it is an urgent to step ahead to commercialize the natural fibers in Nepal.