Minister Bhandari inaugurates coffee farming in Baitadi

BAITADI: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari, inaugurated commercial coffee farming in Patan Municipality, Baitadi district today. 

Minister Bhandari launched a commercial coffee sapling plantation programme. 

On this occasion, he stated that coffee cultivation would aid in income generation by developing and promoting coffee farming, thereby making significant strides in poverty alleviation. 

He noted, "Baitadi is a district that has not received adequate attention from the federal government, despite its potential for various agricultural products, forest products, and minerals. We are now set to change this situation. We have been actively involved in creating employment and raising awareness of economic prosperity in the district by utilising such potential in coordination with different tiers of government."

Acknowledging the growing demand for coffee in the country, Minister Bhandari pointed out that the internal demand for coffee has not been met by domestic production. 

He further stated that the country has not been able to export coffee in line with international demand, sharing that "It is necessary to make Nepali coffee production commercial and result-oriented." 

According to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, the programme was launched in Baitadi as part of the initiative to start coffee farming in Nepal from this year, with technical and financial support from the European Union.