CHITWAN, Feb. 12 -- The history of tea cultivation in Nepal is 160 years old. It was initiated by Gajraj Singh Thapa of Ilam, who began cultivating tea by planting tea bushes in 1920. Since then, Nepali tea has become a prominent export commodity for the country.

Bishnu Prasad Bhattarai, the executive director of the National Tea and Coffee Development Board, said that the country esports tea even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Nepal has not prioritized tea cultivation enough despite its potential to generate substantial income for the country. During the pandemic, Nepal exported 11,920 metric tons of tea, possibly making it the only item exported during this challenging period," Bhattarai said.

Bhattarai said that tea is cultivated in...