Jhapa: Concerns are mounting among stakeholders as Nepal's tea industry, a significant contributor to foreign exchange earnings, faces a looming crisis. This apprehension arises at a time when the National Tea and Coffee Development Board (NTCDB) aims to double foreign currency inflows in the current fiscal year (2080-81) compared to the previous year.

Tea farmers, represented by Harka Tamang, express grievances about the government's treatment of tea as an industry rather than an agricultural product. Tamang notes the adverse impact of electricity tariffs designed for industries, hindering irrigation. Additionally, the absence of an auction market poses a challenge, restricting access to international markets.

Bhupal Sapkota, Central Vice President of All Nepal Trade Union, places blame on the NTCDB for not effectively addressing the issues faced by tea industrialists, businessmen, farmers, and workers. Meanwhile, Deepak Tamang, Central President of Nepal Tea Plantation Workers' Union, accuses the state of apathy in resolving tea sector problems, highlighting issues such as wage discrepancies for workers in some plantations.

In response to these concerns, Bishnu Prasad Bhattarai, Executive Director of the NTCDB, pledges to play an active role in addressing the challenges in the tea sector. He assures stakeholders that the board will work towards resolving the raised issues.

According to board statistics, Nepal earned Rs 3.80 billion in foreign exchange through tea exports in the last fiscal year. The primary markets for Nepali tea include India, China, Sri Lanka, Russia, and the Netherlands. The tea sector encompasses 20,237 hectares of plantations, with 99 percent located in Koshi province. It includes 30 orthodox tea industries and 38 CTC tea industries, providing employment for approximately 70,000 people.