Jhapa: The Koshi Province has experienced substantial production of key cash crops, including tea leaves, cardamom, ginger, and broom grass. In the initial three months of the current fiscal year 2080-81 BS (2023-24), the Kakarvitta Plant Quarantine Office reports that 4,331 metric tons of tea leaves, valued at approximately Rs 2.6 billion, were exported to India through the east Kakarvitta point.

Notably, Jhapa, Ilam, Panchthar, and Dhanukuta are recognized as focal areas for tea production in eastern Nepal. The European market has witnessed a rising demand for organic tea produced in Nepal. Additionally, during the same period, the export of black cardamom amounted to around Rs 1.21 billion, with a quantity of 1,510 metric tons. Black cardamom, cultivated in specific districts including Ilam, Panchthar, Tehrathum, Dhankuta, Sankhuwasabha, Bhojpur, and Khotang, holds high market value.

The Kakarvitta point also recorded the export of 1,793 metric tons of ginger, equivalent to approximately Rs 230 million during the same period. Prior to export, ginger undergoes processing in Jhapa and Ilam districts to ensure its quality. Moreover, there is significant demand for broom grass in India and Bangladesh. According to Chandeshwor Thakur, the information officer at the Plant Quarantine Office, 2,417 metric tons of broom grass worth Rs 290 million were exported in the first three months of the current fiscal year. Broom grass is predominantly cultivated in the steep hills of Nepal.