Nuwakot, September 3:

Farmers in Barsunchet, Kimtang, Salme, Bungtang and Deurali VDCs of Nuwakot district have started commercial tea faming from this year. They have started tea farming as an experiment three years ago.

“The climate and soil of the district is suitable for tea farming,” said the District Agricultural Development Office (DADO), Nuwakot. Altogether 28 farmers are into it.

Jagat Bahadur Tamang, a farmer, had started tea farming for the first time in Nuwakot

district in 2057 BS.

The tea farmers have also established Orthodox Tea Farmers’ Multi-Purpose Cooperatives-2063, headed by Tamang. “Farmers in the district have been lured to commercial tea farming,” Tamang said. They have planted tea plants in over 1000 ropanis of land. However, farmers are worried due to the competitive market.

The government has announced Sundaradevi and Kakani VDCs as ‘Tea Farming Possible Zones’. The DADO has sent five farmers from every VDCs to Ilam to get trainings for the commercial tea farming. Nuwakot District Development Committee has also launched a special campaign in the district for the promotion of tea farming. It has also facilitated farmers to visit different tea estates in the eastern part of the country. Similarly, the DADO has also provided 50 per cent money to the tea farmers to purchase tea plants.