The National Tea Policy, 2057 (2000-2001) establishes a framework for the development and expansion of Nepal’s tea sector by increasing private-sector participation in tea cultivation, processing and commercial activities. Its principal objectives are to improve the quality and quantity of tea production, encourage tea farmers and entrepreneurs, increase income and employment opportunities as a means of reducing poverty, promote domestic and international markets for Nepalese tea, and make the tea industry economically sustainable and attractive. The Policy also seeks to expand tea cultivation in ways that contribute to environmental conservation and to increase foreign-exchange earnings through tea exports. The Policy introduces measures covering tea production and processing, land access, irrigation, agricultural inputs, infrastructure, finance and credit, marketing, trade and exports, research, technology and human-resource development. It provides incentives for small farmers, commercial producers, cooperatives, processors, packaging industries and exporters, while strengthening the institutional role of the National Tea and Coffee Development Board. The Policy also promotes research and training, improved planting material, technical services, market information, export promotion and value-added tea processing and packaging. It sets quantitative development targets for the expansion of cultivated area, overall tea production, employment creation and an increased share of orthodox tea in national production.
Nepal · 2000-04-13