Boost in Koshi Province's Agricultural Exports: Tea, Cardamom, Ginger, and Broom Grass on the Rise
In a positive turn of events for Koshi province, the export of special cash crops such as tea, cardamom, ginger, and thysanolaena(also known as broom grass) has experienced a notable surge. The Plant Quarantine Office in Kakarbhitta reported that during the current fiscal year 2080/81, a significant quantity of organic tea, totaling 4,331 metric tons and valued at Rs. 2.59 arba, was successfully exported to India through the eastern port of Kakarbhitta.
Tea cultivation is thriving in districts like Jhapa, Ilam, Panchthar, and Dhankuta within Koshi province. Business insiders reveal that the demand for Nepal's organic tea is on the rise, particularly in the European market, including India. Alongside tea, other agricultural products like cardamom, ginger, and broom grass, primarily produced in the hilly regions, are making their mark in the Indian market.
According to Chandeshwar Thakur, the information officer at the Plant Quarantine Office, cardamom, with its high market value due to its uses as both medicine and spice, saw an impressive export of 1,510 metric tons worth Rs. 20.80 arba during the months of Shrawan, Bhadra, and Ashwin in the current fiscal year.
The eastern hills, including districts like Ilam, Panchthar, Taplejung, Tehrathum, Dhankuta, Sankhuwasabha, Bhojpur, and Khotang, contribute significantly to the cultivation of cardamom. The quarter period of 2080/81 also witnessed the export of 1,793 metric tons of ginger, valued at Rs. 22.95 crore, from the Kakarbhitta port. This ginger, processed in Jhapa and Ilam, is sourced directly from farmers and undergoes quality enhancement before being exported to India.
Thysanolaena(grass broom), also known as 'amliso' natively, utilized in broom production, holds a notable place in the agricultural exports of the region. With a high demand in India and Bangladesh, Nepal managed to export 2,417 metric tons of amliso worth Rs. 29.40 crore during the same quarter of the current fiscal year. Farmers benefit from the cultivation of amliso, as the flowers are crushed for pulp, and the grass is used as cattle feed.
Beyond these key agricultural products, plywood, veneer wood products, and bay leaf, a spice, are also finding their way into the Indian market through the eastern border. The Plant Quarantine Office reports exports of 22,672 metric tons of plywood and veneer worth Rs. 74.18 crore during the first quarter of the current year. Additionally, 28 metric tons of bay leaf, valued at Rs. 17 lakh 92 thousand, were exported to India during the same period.
Furthermore, lentils, a staple agricultural product, also made their mark in exports to India, with 587 metric tons of black lentils worth Rs. 8.41 crore being exported during the first quarter of the current fiscal year. The overall boost in agricultural exports signifies a positive trend for the economy of Koshi province, bringing prosperity to local farmers and businesses alike.
