--By Gaurav Aryal

 

Ilam has been established synonymous to tea plantation in Nepal. For many, it would be surprising to find a tea estate close to Kathmandu. Everest Tea Estate, located just 20 kilometres north of Saankhu, in Bhotechaur VDC is not only trying to prove that tea plantation is possible in places other than Ilam, but also is setting an example of a successful social enterprise.

 

Prof. Som Prasad Gauchan, Executive President of Everest Tea Estate (ETE) says that ETE is in a drive to expand its production capacity as well as the product range. Gauchan, who is also the founder of ETE reveals that he is working with a target to utilise the entire production capacity of the tea estate to produce 50 tonnes of green tea annually. He says that the tea garden spread over 1500 ropanis of land is capable of producing 50 tonnes of tea annually but it is currently producing 10 tonnes increasing from its initial production of five tonnes.

 

Gauchan, says, “I have plans to develop Bhotechaur and surrounding areas as a new Ilam and develop ETE as a producer of highest grade green tea.” He also has plans to expand the tea garden in Chaukibhyanjyang for producing black tea there.

 

To increase the production capacity of tea, new machines are being added. Similarly, Gauchan says that he is planning to increase the raw material production by developing irrigation facility to the tea garden.  “If tea plants can be watered during dry season, production can be raised to 50 tonnes per year. By adding this facility along with more use of organic fertilizer, I am hopeful that this target can soon be met,” Gauchan shares his hopes.

 

As a producer of organic green tea, ETE is facing shortage of organic fertilizers for the entire tea garden. To address this problem, Gauchan is planning to start a cow farm in Bhotechaur. He says that he will be starting the farm with 20 cows and gradually increase the number of cows to 50.

 

Sharing Benefits

Gauchan has invested more than Rs 50 million in the tea estate but he says he has very little share of land ownership of the tea garden. He says that land owned by locals have been leased for 45 years. Locals also receive certain percentage of price of the raw tealeaves.

 

Gauchan had visions to generate employment opportunities to people in the village and provide them with some source of income for their livelihood when he established ETE. He chose this particular crop, as it is labour intensive cash crop. Presently, the ETE employs 60 workers during the high season and around 30 during the off-season along with 10 other permanent administrative staff. He says that 80 per cent of all the workers are women.

 

The ETE has designed the working hours in such a way that women who are hired for plucking, weeding and other works do not have to compromise with their household responsibilities. The working hour is set from 6 am to 12 noon. 

 

“Economic and social status of 80 per cent of women in the area has improved compared to that in the past. The small village economy receives up to Rs 1 million each year. This has helped a lot in making them financially independent,” shares Gauchan. He further says that a programme is being designed to offer courses on tea farming at the local higher secondary school. 

 

Gauchan says he is working on a concept of developing three Ts (tea, tourism and trekking) inthe area.  He adds that the area holds the possibility of being developed as a tourist destination and it could be the linking point of trekking trails to different destinations. He also says that 400 ropanis of fallow land can also be developed as a picnic and recreation spot and talk with locals on the matter are underway. “These initiatives would provide locals with more income sources that will help them raise their economic status,” believes Gauchan. 

 

Initiating the Enterprise

The concept of tea plantation in Bhotechaur came to Gauchan’s mind when he visited the area 20 years ago and spotted tea plants of high quality at Chaukibhyanjyang. He also saw locals coming to a conclusion to migrate from the area because their crops were destroyed by wild boars coming from the then Shivapuri Wildlife Reserve. Gauchan thought that establishing a tea garden that holds possibility will not only prove to be a lucrative business but also benefit local residents. “It was a sort of gambling but I dared to gamble and I was lucky that it worked,” says Gauchan.

 

He started tea plantation in mid 1990s. As the tea has large gestation period it took seven years to begin production. Meanwhile, his financial partners who were also his relatives pulled out their support and he was on his own determined to take the project forward. There were banks to offer him required capital to carry on with the tea estate. Initially, ETE produced black tea. Gauchan says that ETE is now producing only green tea that has attractive export market.

 

He says that half of the total production is consumed in Nepal while rest is exported to Germany, Czech Republic and the USA. He feels that the awareness on health benefits of consuming green tea is increasing in Nepal and it has lead to rise of domestic green tea market. Gauchan says that when he was awarded with SNASEA as recognition of his hard work and dedication, it not only encouraged him but also helped ETE to come into the limelight.