Suryodaya Municipality, NAST agree to operate tea testing centre in Kanyam

By Prem Adhikari,Kanyam, Jan. 24: Suryodaya Municipality has reached an agreement with Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) to operate the country’s first tea testing, promotion, and research centre in Kanyam, Ilam.

An agreement has been signed to operate the Tea Testing Centre, established with an investment of Rs. 216,790,526 from the Koshi Provincial Government and Suryodaya Municipality. 

The agreement was signed in the presence of NAST Vice-Chancellor Dilip Subba, with the agreement signed by NAST Secretary Dr. Rabindra Prasad Dhakal and Suryodaya Municipality Mayor Rana Bahadur Rai.

As per the agreement, NAST will take responsibility for the first phase of operations for two years, ensuring the provision of technical manpower and necessary equipment in coordination with the municipality.

The agreement stipulates that NAST will operate a modern laboratory for quality testing of Nepali tea and collaborate on research in the tea sector. 

Meanwhile, the municipality will formulate policies for local tea production, provide infrastructure for the laboratory, coordinate with all three levels of government for equipment procurement, and manage budgetary provisions for the laboratory’s operation.

At the signing event, tea entrepreneur Uday Chapagain emphasised the need to operate the centre considering the demands of local tea farmers and entrepreneurs. 

He suggested adopting a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model for its operation. 

Similarly, Uttam Kumar Pradhan, Chairperson of the Suryodaya Tea Association, stated that the international market should recognise the tea tested at the centre.

NAST Secretary Dr. Rabindra Prasad Dhakal assured that the laboratory would commence operations within two months. 

He stated that technical manpower would be deployed, and essential equipment would be procured. 

He added, “To operate the centre under a PPP model, local tea entrepreneurs must contribute a percentage of their earnings to the centre’s basket fund.”

NAST Vice-Chancellor Dilip Subba highlighted that the centre would provide technical support and enable quality testing of tea.

Mayor Rai said that although the tea testing centre is the first of its kind in Nepal, its operation depends on NAST’s technical support. He noted that the centre would play a crucial role in testing tea varieties and assessing quality, making Nepali tea competitive in the global market.

The construction of the tea testing centre, which includes a hotel, seminar hall, and cafe, began in the fiscal year 2021/22 and was inaugurated in the current fiscal year by Koshi Province Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki.