Nepal's First Tea Research Center Remains Idle 18 Months After Inauguration

Biratnagar. The 'Tea Testing, Promotion, and Research Center,' built through a partnership between the Koshi Province government and Suryodaya Municipality, has yet to become operational nearly a year and a half after its inauguration.
Built in Kanyam, Ilam—the capital of tea—this is considered Nepal's first tea research center.

Although Koshi Province Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki inaugurated the center on 2081 Mangsir 27, the machinery and tea testing equipment inside remain non-functional.
The primary issue is a lack of water. Despite an investment of over 130 million rupees, the grand structure currently sits like an empty exhibition hall.

Ranabahadur Rai, the former mayor of Suryodaya Municipality who led the project's inception, clarified that the water crisis is the main reason for the delay. 'We had incorporated the Nepal government's comprehensive water supply project, which was supposed to be completed in 2081. We planned to source water from there. However, when that project was not completed on time, we were left without water. Even though the municipality was ready to operate other facilities, it could not function,' Rai explained. 'The 660 million rupee Panchakanya Kanyam Comprehensive Water Supply Project was delayed, which stalled this center. About 80 percent of the work is now complete. How can tea testing proceed without water?'

According to Rai, the municipality has initiated another water supply project, which is now in its final stages. Acting Mayor Durgakumar Baral claimed the center would be operational soon, stating that infrastructure and human resources are being managed. 'There was a delay due to the water issue, but we are working on it. We are currently building an overhead tank, and once that is done, it will be operational,' he said.

Baral noted that a contract has been signed with Uttam Pragati Construction Pvt. Ltd. from Fikkal to operate the center. 'We need technicians for the lab, and two have already been prepared. Coordination with the provincial Ministry of Agriculture is also underway. Work such as photo collection for the museum is ongoing,' he added.

Pashupati Pokharel, spokesperson for the Koshi Province Ministry of Industry, Agriculture, and Cooperatives, stated that while the ministry provided a grant, the responsibility for operations lies entirely with the municipality. 'This is a promotion center, a place for display. Discussions are ongoing about running the lab. How it is operated is the municipality's responsibility. We only provided grant support,' Pokharel said.

The center was built with 70 percent funding from the Koshi Province government and 30 percent from Suryodaya Municipality, with a total estimated cost of 130 million rupees. The project includes a hotel, a state-of-the-art seminar hall, a tea museum, a cafe, and a tea testing laboratory.

During the inauguration, Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki described it as a project of pride for Koshi Province. Tea farmers and entrepreneurs showed great enthusiasm at the ceremony.
Nepal produces 7.5 million kilograms of orthodox tea annually, generating over 15 billion rupees in economic activity. Ten percent of Ilam's tea is consumed domestically, while 70 percent is exported to India and 20 percent to third countries.

Once operational, the center is expected to allow for local quality and flavor testing, enable international tea inspectors to verify quality, and boost tourism in Kanyam through the museum and seminar facilities.

A few days ago, a team including Koshi Province Minister of Economic Affairs and Planning, Bidur Kumar Lingthep, and Vice-Chairman of the Provincial Planning Commission, Taranath Niraula, inspected the project and suggested operating it under a 'Public-Private Partnership' model.