Koshi Province Government Plans Tea Laboratory Amidst Export Challenges

Biratnagar. Nepal's tea exports came to a halt two weeks ago due to the 'Standard Operating Procedure' implemented by India on tea imports. However, exports have now resumed as India has relaxed the strictness regarding laboratory testing. The main pretext for the Indian side to create obstacles for Nepali tea has been the stringent provisions of testing standards.

Nepal has not yet been able to fully test Nepali tea and send it. There is no laboratory in Nepal that is recognized by India or exporting countries for sending tea according to their standards. There is also no laboratory in Nepal that is recognized by India or other countries.

However, the Koshi Province government has mentioned operating a tea laboratory in its policy and program for the upcoming fiscal year. The policy and program state, 'The Tea Testing Laboratory and Research Center will be brought into effective operation.'

For local testing, the Food Technology and Quality Control Office, Biratnagar, conducts the tests. The Department of Food Technology also has a laboratory. Experts in the agricultural sector question why the province needs a separate laboratory when the existing laboratories are not functioning properly.

Although the provincial government has announced the operation of a tea testing laboratory, the reality is quite complex. According to Nepali tea exporters and experts, operating a government lab requires not only a building and machinery but also international accreditation and diplomatic efforts.

According to tea exporters Shiva Kumar Gupta and Aditya Parajuli, India is the market for 70 percent of Nepali tea, but India's Tea Board does not recognize tests conducted in Nepal. 'We get tested from the government lab in Biratnagar, but India does not accept it,' said Gupta. 'India requires a detailed report of pesticide residue, which is not possible in Nepali labs.'

According to another businessman, Parajuli, the lab built in Fikkal is geographically impractical, as a lot of tea production and export happens from Jhapa.

Private sector organizations like 'Jest Laboratories' claim to be able to test all parameters of tea. Although Jest can provide international-level reports in Nepal, the main problem is the lack of agreements between countries.

According to Pushpa Lal Rai, chief of the Food Technology and Quality Control Office, Biratnagar, 'For India or third countries to accept the report of a Nepali lab, an MoU between the governments of the two countries is necessary. Furthermore, the lab must be audited and accredited by an internationally recognized institution (like NABL)..'

According to Rai, another major challenge is skilled manpower. Even if machinery worth 10-15 crore is acquired, it is difficult to retain expert manpower to operate it in Nepal's government service. The tendency of transferring trained employees raises questions about the continuity of the lab.

Agricultural expert Dr. Rajendra Upreti makes a strong comment on the government's working style. 'Since there is a game of contracts and commissions in building construction, everyone's interest seems to be only in structural development,' he said. 'But no one paid attention to the technical staff and basic things like water required to run the lab.'

According to Upreti, the provincial government may be able to operate the lab, but willpower and collaboration with the private sector are essential for it.

He stated that as long as the Nepali government does not make diplomatic efforts with India and other countries to recognize the reports of Nepali labs, the usability and effectiveness of the tea testing lab operated by the Koshi government will remain questionable.

Secondly, a mechanism should be created to retain technical staff in the lab through contracts or special facilities, and the lab should be recognized by India or listed under international ISO standards, Upreti suggests. He also believes that technical complexities can be resolved by operating the government center in partnership with private labs like Jest.

The 'Tea Testing, Promotion, and Research Center' built with an investment of over 13 crore in Ilam's Kanyam with the investment of the Koshi Province government has not been operational even though it is almost a year and a half since its inauguration. It can be estimated that the provincial government has put forward a plan to operate a 'Tea Testing Laboratory' in the same structure again in its policy and program for the upcoming fiscal year.

On November 27, 2080, the Chief Minister of Koshi Province, Hikmat Kumar Karki, inaugurated this center in a grand ceremony. This structure, built with 70 percent investment from the Koshi Province government and 30 percent from Suryodaya Municipality, includes a hotel, a modern seminar hall, a tea museum, and a laboratory (lab).

However, ironically! This structure, which cost 13 crore, does not even have the minimum required provision for 'water' for laboratory operation. Work is currently underway to bring water to the site. This center was built with the objective of testing tea quality at the local level and bringing international tea inspectors. But the structure built for that purpose has not yet become operational.

Targeting that very issue, expert Rajendra Upreti said, 'The Koshi Province government had taken the initiative to establish a Tea Testing, Promotion, and Research Center in Fikkal, Ilam. Crores of government money were spent for a purpose, but now it is being rented out and rent is being collected.' He stated that reliable tea testing remains limited to plans.