3rd Int'l Tea Festival kicks off in Kathmandu

Kathmandu, Apr. 6: Third International Tea Festival 2018 kicked off here on Friday after gap of 12 years.

With an aim of creating a platform for tea farmers, producers and international traders to hold interaction, and to support national producers to promote their products and expand market, National Tea and Coffee Development Board (NTCDB) is organising the 3-day festival. 

Minister for Agriculture, Land Management and Cooperatives Chakra Pani Khanal ‘Baldev’ said that Nepal needed reforms in three areas - policy, infrastructure and marketing - in order to promote tea sector development in the country as well as to promote Nepali tea in the international market. 

“Nepal produces high quality tea but we have failed to convey this fact to the world. We must be better in packaging and promotion of our products, too. The country has high chances of increasing tea export. We have so many quality products that will automatically find their way in the international market, we just need to introduce them there,” said the Minister. 

He pledged the government support for the development of tea sector. 

Executive Director of NTCDB Sheshkanta Gautam stated that Nepal is capable to compete the international tea giants in terms of quality. 

“Nepal has changed itself from tea importing to tea producing and exporting country over the years but we lack the market. Therefore we would like to promote Nepali tea in the global market with the support from international partners,” he said. 

General Manager of Tea Gschwendner, Germany, Thomas Holz pledged his support in promoting Nepali tea in the international market. 

“Good relation with the international market helps in good sales. So connect the international traders and consumers with the Nepali tea and also develop a common strategy for the future,” he said. 

Chairman of the Tea Board of India Prabhat K. Bezboruah also said that the board was ready to support Nepali tea entrepreneurs and associations in enhancing their capacity through training and other programmes. 

According to him, Indian government is not going to change its policy of duty-free entry of Nepali tea in the Indian market and local producers won’t be much affected by Nepali products as the market is very large.

‘Nepal Tea’ trademark was formally launched during the event.  

Nepal is the youngest tea producing nation that produces about 24 million kg tea every year of which 5.5 million kg is orthodox tea from 28,000 hactre. 

Orthodox tea is produced in the hills while the CTC tea is produced in the plains. 

More than 80 per cent orthodox tea is produced by the small-holder farmers, and 60 per cent tea sector workers are women. 

The Festival features interactions, business meetings, product exhibitions, trip to tea-garden, tea testing at the Everest Base Camp and other promotional activities. 

The international guests were taken to the EBC for the tea testing on Thursday. About 29 international delegates from America, Australia, China, Japan, France, Canada, Germany, Russia, Denmark and India are participating in the festival. 

The first and second tea festivals were organised in 2001 and 2006 respectively. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 7 April 2018.