Kathmandu, October 15:

The National Tea and Coffee Development Board (NTCDB) is going to launch a national logo for Nepali coffee that is being exported to several countries in the international market.

“Plantation and production of coffee in Nepal is escalating and higher possibilities in its further growth have become very obvious. Therefore, to cope with the growing demand and keeping in mind the need for its international branding we will launch its brand in the international market within two months,” said Madhav Deep Thapaliya, administrative officer at NTCDB.

For the year 2007, coffee production was 270 MT dry parchment. NTCDB has targeted to produce 1000 MT in the next 10 years.

“As new plans and policies regarding coffee production and plantation will soon be formed by the government, we are hopeful that the prospects of coffee production and its export to the international market will increase greatly,” Thapaliya added.

Thapaliya further said, “As soon as a policy is made regarding coffee in Nepal all the workers and the industrialist will benefit and get various facilities. We are done with all the processes and very soon we will get our logo for coffee registered at the Ministry of Industry.”

“Nepali tea has its own brand in the international market since 2001 and now it’s time to get a national logo for the coffee produced in the domestic market so that it will have its own brand and won’t get mixed up with other coffee products in the international market,” he said.

Talking about the NTCDB quest to get more space in the international market, Thapaliya said NTCDB is supporting the tea and coffee lobbying in the international market. “We support and encourage all tea and coffee industries participating in the tea and coffee fairs abroad, so that we can inflow information about the quality of Nepali tea and coffee.”

Recent statistics of NTCDB show an increase in coffee export to the international market. During 2006-07 coffee worth Rs 401.1 million was exported. In 1994-95 it was only Rs 164.3 million.

During 1994-95, the coffee plantation on 135.7 hectares churned out only 12.95 MT,but in the year 2006-07 the plantation area was increased to 1396 hectares and the yield reached 460 MT. Nepal is exporting coffee beans mostly to Japan, America and European countries. This is being extended to other parts of the word.