Growth in tea farmers’ income, government’s concern: Agriculture Minister Adhikari

KATHMANDU: Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Ramnath Adhikari has promised a new agricultural policy very soon. As he said the policy will be focused on prompting the exports and limiting the imports.

During his address to a programme organised marking the 29th National Tea Day by the National Tea and Coffee Development Board here today, the Minister said the production and productivity growth, agricultural grants and agricultural finance are the top priorities of the government and they will be reflected in the new policy which will be presented before the Council of Ministers for approval within a few days.

He further expressed his hope that the new policy will be capable in addressing the overall issues in the agricultural sector, promoting agricultural self-sufficiency.

Echoing the urgency of further development of the agricultural sector for the country’s sustainable development, the Minister said the rise in farmers’ income is one of the key priorities of the government.

As he vowed, the market for the Nepali tea at the national and international level will be further promoted.

According to him, tea industries in Nepal have created around 60,000 jobs. Agriculture Secretary Govinda Prasad Sharma said farmers will be provided subsidy for the use of technology in agriculture, manufacturing of quality products and the growth in production of exportable products.

The Day was observed under the theme “Healthy Tea, Sustainable Market, Foundation for Prosperous Nepal. On the occasion, an exhibition of tea products was held.

According to the Board’s statistics for 2080-81 BS (2024-25), tea farming in the country spreads to a total of 20,160 hectares of land. In the past nine months, tea products worth Rs 3.57 billion were exported from Nepal.