Nepal's Tea Industry Faces Export Hurdles Amidst Systemic Weaknesses

Tea produced in the green hills of Nepal's eastern mountains is a product connected to our identity, potential, and the lives of thousands of farmers. When tea cultivation began in Ilam, Nepal, in 1863, Sri Lanka was cultivating coffee. When the fungal blight disease severely increased in coffee cultivation, tea cultivation began in Sri Lanka from 1867.

Sri Lanka's tea industry, which started after ours, has reached billions. But in our country, the recent obstruction in exports to India has raised a serious question again. Even if we produce good tea, how strong have we made the structure for reliable testing, certification, branding, and connecting with international markets?