Local tea plantation widens in Gulmi

By Tilachan Pandey,Gulmi, June 16: After successful trials of tea cultivation in Gulmi, the cultivation has now been expanded to a larger area.

Last year, over ten thousand tea saplings were brought from Ilam and planted on a trial basis in Dhunwa Khola in Kaligandaki Rural Municipality-7. As the saplings grew well, local residents have stated that tea farming is now being expanded to a larger area.

The Tamu Entrepreneurial Women’s Group initiated the concept of tea cultivation last year by utilising barren land in Dhunwa Khola, Bhurtung. According to project planner Ashish Gurung, a sub-committee was formed under the group to create a plan for planting and studying tea and other crops. 

A total of 36 households are involved in the group. He said that tea cultivation was started last year on 17 ropanis of unused land, and they are now preparing to plant tea saplings on about 20 ropanis.

In addition, several organisations such as the Tamu Community Development Organisation, Tamu Youth Club, Dhunwa Khola Water Consumers and Sanitation Committee, and the Dhunwa Khola Tea Plantation Conservation Consumers Committee are also involved in tea farming. 

As homestays have also been started in Dhunwa Khola, the group is working to promote tourism. Sub-committee coordinator Karna Bahadur Gurung said that they have planned to create self-employment opportunities through tea farming and homestay operations.

Jamuna Gurung, chairperson of the Tamu Entrepreneurial Women’s Group, said that by utilising barren land for tea cultivation, employment opportunities can be created within the country, helping to prevent youth from migrating abroad for work.

According to the Agriculture Knowledge Centre Gulmi, moist areas with high humidity are ideal for tea cultivation. Tea can typically be cultivated at elevations ranging from 800 metres to 1,800 metres above sea level.

Last year, the centre sent a group to the Tea and Coffee Development Board in Ilam for study and observation. Crop Development Officer Prakash Marasini informed that the group also had interactions with technical experts and received basic training on tea farming.