Task Force Submits Report Proposing Solutions to Tea Export Challenges

A nine-member task force formed to address issues in Nepal’s tea sector and promote exports has submitted its report to Minister Gaurikumari Yadav. Following new directives imposed by the Indian Tea Board that created obstacles for exports, the government has recommended immediate, medium-term, and long-term measures. In the fiscal year 2081/82, Nepal exported 15,599 tons of tea worth NPR 459 crore. Kathmandu, 26 Asar.

The special study task force, led by Deputy Secretary Buddha Bahadur Gurung from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies, prepared and handed over the report within two weeks to Minister Gaurikumari Yadav. The task force recommended solutions to address the recent new regulations implemented by India — the primary market for Nepali tea — and the serious impact these have had on the Nepali tea industry.

While receiving the report, Minister Yadav affirmed the government’s commitment to reforming the tea sector and removing policy and practical barriers to export. She stated that the task force’s recommendations will be prioritized for implementation. According to the report, in the fiscal year 2081/82, Nepal produced over 26.1 million kilograms of made tea from 20,602 hectares of cultivation area. Of the total production, 15,599 tons valued at NPR 459 crore were exported, with India accounting for 86.77 percent of the exports.

This data highlights Nepal’s significant dependency on the Indian market for tea exports. The Indian Tea Board’s new regulation, which mandates compulsory quality testing starting May 1, 2026, has created severe obstacles for Nepali tea exports. The report notes that delays in laboratory testing, high testing fees, and border restrictions have directly and negatively affected the livelihoods of tea producers, exporters, small farmers, and workers in the industry.