On the occasion of 17^th national coffee day, National tea and coffee development board (NTCDB), the government agency for the development of tea and coffee sector, made a press meet.

As per the NTCDB press release, Nepal faces a decrease in coffee import in the fiscal year 2077/78 BS. According to NTCDB Nepal has imported 266.17 MT coffee in 2076/77 BS with a value of 118.849 million Rupees. Whereas it has decreased to 198.76 MT in 2077/78 with a value of 106.721 million Rupees. In the meantime, Nepal’s coffee export has increased to 72.48 MT (2077/78). Export value of the coffee exported to various countries total 96 million rupees.

Coffee plantation in Nepal is increasing year by year. In fiscal year 2077/78 it reached 3053 Ha producing 314.5 MT of coffee. Plantation area in 2076/77 was 2360 Ha producing 296.5 MT of coffee.

From production to drying coffee faces various steps. Coffee price varies for fresh cherry from the farm to parchment and dried cherry. Fresh coffee cherry and parchment are categorized as A and B grade. Price for the A grade and B grade coffee vary with their quality. NTCDB through its press release has announced the minimum price of the coffee by category. According to NTCDB Fresh cherry of grade A will receive 90 rupees per kg whereas grade B will receive only 80 rupees. Similarly, Parchment of grade A will receive a minimum of rupees 450 whereas grade B will receive 397 for the fiscal year 2077/78. In a similar way dried cherry of grade, A will receive 148 rupees per kg as minimum price. Similarly grade B will receive 95 rupees. This minimum price of coffee is similar to the last fiscal year.

According to NTCDB, Bagmati province is the highest producer of coffee, i.e., 116.1 MT in the fiscal year 2077/78. Bagmati is followed by Gandaki province with 76.3 MT. As per the data produced by NTCDB Gandaki province has the highest plantation area (909 ha) and highest number of coffee farmers (12895). Province 2 is still virgin to coffee production and plantation.