Nepal

Farmers and traders in this Himalayan nation have agreed to maintain a minimum support price for coffee due to the ongoing financial crisis and high input costs.

The agreement was decided on by coffee farmers and traders at a recent meeting held in the presence of Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MAC) and Nepal Tea and Coffee Development Board (NTCBD) representatives

According to Binaya Mishra, executive director of NTCDB, quoted in local newpapers, fresh cherry and parched coffee has been fixed at Rs27 and Rs142/kg respectively (US$0.37 and US$1.93). Dry cherry in categories A, B and C have been priced at Rs80, Rs55 and Rs20/kg respectively.

Over 65% of Nepal’s coffee is exported, principally to the US, Holland, Belgium, Japan and South Korea.

To counter growing sales of coffee to international markets incorrectly identified as Nepali coffee, traders and farmers asked the government to take steps to counter this scam to boost the image of Nepali coffee and its export potential.