Coffee Farming Expands Across Koshi Province

Jhapa, July 25

Coffee farming is steadily growing across Koshi Province, with commercial plantations now active in 12 districts. According to Ananta Dhungana, spokesperson for the Regional Office of the National Tea and Coffee Development Board in Birtamod, coffee is being grown on more than 2,000 hectares of land in the region.

The districts involved in large-scale coffee farming include Ilam, Dhankuta, Bhojpur, Khotang, Sankhuwasabha, Okhaldhunga, Solukhumbu, Tehrathum, Udayapur, Morang, Panchthar, and Taplejung. Over 5,000 farmers are currently engaged in coffee cultivation in Koshi. The province produces around 90 to 100 metric tons of coffee beans annually, valued at roughly Rs 200 million.

More than half of this coffee is exported. Koshi contributes about 20 percent of Nepal’s total annual coffee production of 500 metric tons. Ilam leads the province, with over 2,000 farmers cultivating coffee across 900 hectares, producing about 50 metric tons of beans each year. Other districts with major production include Dhankuta (750 hectares), Morang (500 hectares), and Panchthar (350 hectares).

To support expansion, the National Tea and Coffee Development Board is offering grants of Rs 750,000 for farmers and cooperatives planting coffee on at least 50 ropanis of land, and Rs 350,000 for those producing seedlings in nurseries.

In fiscal year 2081/82, coffee farming was extended across 110 hectares in 24 local governments in Koshi, with the board spending Rs 23.7 million. For the current fiscal year, Rs 28.35 million has been allocated to expand cultivation in 23 local levels.

“Koshi Province is well-suited for coffee farming,” said Dhungana. “There’s no issue with market demand for the coffee. However, many farmers still lack awareness about processing, maintaining quality, proper packaging, and branding. Because of this, they are unable to sell their coffee directly in the international market.”

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