KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress Chief Whip Nishkal Rai has drawn the government’s attention to the difficulties faced in tea exports to India, warning that the situation has put Ilam’s tea industry at risk of shutdown.
Speaking during the emergency session of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, Rai said disruptions in tea exports had created a serious crisis for farmers and entrepreneurs in eastern Nepal.
He noted that the Indian Tea Board’s introduction of new standards, including a requirement that Nepali tea can only be sold after quality certification reports are issued, has severely affected exports, forcing tea producers to consider shutting down operations.
Rai also remarked that while the Prime Minister has time to visit tea shops and drink tea, there appears to be little urgency in addressing the problems faced by tea farmers and entrepreneurs, whom he described as the backbone of the national economy.
He urged the government to initiate immediate G2G-level diplomatic efforts to resolve the export issue and stressed the need for a long-term solution to safeguard Nepal’s tea sector.
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