Sindhupalchowk, Dec. 29: It is estimated that coffee sales in Sindhupalchowk generate an annual income of more than Rs. 30 million. Mandu Thapa, Chairperson of the Sindhupalchowk Coffee Cooperative Union Limited, shared that this amount is earned annually from the coffee produced by farmers across the district.
The Union was established in 2012 with 64 groups and 8 cooperatives from three municipalities and nine rural municipalities in the district. Before that, coffee farming had been promoted through groups since 2005.
After the establishment of the Coffee Cooperative Union, coffee farming in Sindhupalchowk has seen significant growth. Thapa explained that the union has been promoting coffee production, processing, organic certification, and both national and international marketing.
It has inspired farmers to engage in coffee farming by providing training, encouragement, and various forms of support. Currently, coffee produced by 22 groups and 12 cooperatives in the district is being exported to national and international markets.
The organic coffee produced by cooperative-affiliated farmers is being exported to Japan, Korea, Australia, and the United States. Thapa shared that coffee is being distributed in Japan by Green Cup Japan, in Korea by Beautiful Coffee, in Australia by Himalayan Coffee, and in the United States by a coffee business in the same country.
There are 29 coffee collection and processing centres in Sindhupalchowk. The district has 10 processing buildings, and 2,150 farmers are producing organic coffee, according to statistics from the union.
Coffee produced by farmers in Sindhupalchowk is being exported to both national and international markets under the ‘Sindhu Organic Coffee’ brand. After coffee is produced, the union distributes profits to farmers in the form of bonuses.
The Coffee Cooperative Union has been encouraging farmers to grow coffee by constructing processing centres, providing machinery and equipment, distributing coffee and fruit, offering grants, and even helping with irrigation.
Additionally, the union has supported various social initiatives such as providing relief materials to disaster victims, assisting with education and healthcare, and helping those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and earthquakes, as well as donating educational supplies to schools.
Currently, coffee is being cultivated on 124 hectares of land in Sindhupalchowk.
At present, 3,000 kg of dry parchment coffee is being produced. In 2005/06, only 400 kg of dry cherry coffee was produced in the district. Since the start of coffee production, the economic condition of many farmers has improved.
With guaranteed markets for their products, farmers are seeing better and more reliable income, and hundreds of them are now engaged in coffee farming. As a result, farmers are increasingly attracted to coffee farming, since they receive payment on time and no longer face the challenges of poor-quality processing techniques.
There are hundreds of farmers in the district making a substantial income from coffee farming. Among them, Yam Bahadur Mahat of Chautara Sangachokgadhi Municipality-10 is one of the top earners, with an annual income of over Rs. 1 million from coffee farming.
Similarly, Bed Prasad Paudel from Bhaktapur-4 and Mun Bahadur Pandit from Helambu Rural Municipality also earn over Rs. 1 million each annually from coffee farming. Chudamani Pyakurel from Sunkoshi Rural Municipality-3 has an annual income of more than Rs. 600,000 from coffee farming.
The Union reported that many farmers in Sindhupalchowk earn between Rs. 200,000 and Rs. 1 million or more annually from coffee farming.
To promote and advertise coffee in the local market, a ‘Beautiful Café’ has been opened in Chautara Sangachokgadhi. The Coffee Cooperative Union Limited has played a vital role in promoting coffee and improving the economic status of farmers in Sindhupalchowk.
As a result, the union was honoured by the National Tea and Coffee Development Board this year as the Outstanding District Coffee Cooperative Union.
Last year, the Federation of Export Entrepreneurs of Nepal recognised the union as the Best Exporter. It has also been awarded the ‘Excellent Value Chain’ and was honoured for its achievements in coffee testing across Nepal, where it ranked first.
