Selling of betelnut leaves beneficial in Urlabari

By Our Correspondent,Urlabari, July 23: Khagendra Raj Bhandari of Phadanika Letang-2 of Morang sold betelnut leaves worth Rs 7,000 last year. He has planted 150 betel nut trees.

After the local Lift Letang Enterprises opened a domestic industry of making duna-tapari (leaf plates) from betel leaves, the farmers who are cultivating betel nuts have started getting a double benefit.

Not only Khagendra Raj Bhandari, Hari Prasad Dhimal of Letang-6 has made Rs. 11,000 selling betelnut leaves. Dhimal has a large plantation of betelnuts in his garden. 

He said that most leaves fall off, but if properly collected and stored, around Rs. 20,000-22,000 can be made from just selling the betelnut leaves. 

Not just Dhimal and Bhandari, but Gopilal Magar, Devi Prasad Ojha and many other farmers have been reaping economic benefits of selling betelnut leaves. 

After seven entrepreneurs from Letang brought a machine to make duna-tapari from betelnut leaves, betelnut leaves started being sold. The industry has given direct employment to five people.

Director Lekhnath Timilsina said, “Production of duna-tapari began in November of 2021. The demand for the products is bigger in big cities like Pokhara and Kathmandu rather than the local market.”

He added that the businessmen were excited after foreign export also started. The process of going abroad being complicated has resulted in produced stuff being remained as stock. 

The industry which is producing 10,000 pieces of duna-tapari daily is also doing well in terms of income. 

Generally, a duna-tapari plate can be made from a leaf bought for Rs. 2.50 to Rs. 3.0 and can be sold for up to Rs. 8/9. 

This business was started with a joint investment of Rs. 2.1 million by Lekhnath Timilsina, Jas Bahadur Rai, Yuvraj Khatiwada, Roshan Paudel, Bijay Devkota, Subas Rai, and Aatish Subedi and is being run by them.

This business, which utilises local waste products and connects them with economic benefits, has directly and indirectly employed 27/28 people in Letang.

Letang Municipality is also going to cooperate for the promotion of this industry as they are producing environmentally-friendly products using betelnut leaves.

Bhupendra Kumar Lawati, Mayor of Letang Municipality, said, “The state is not able to provide employment. We are ready to provide financial and technical support to self-employed entrepreneurs. However, that industry should be able to create employment.”