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Programme area

Our current activity is focused on Khunga Village, a very remote eastern part of Panchthar district of Nepal that borders Darejeeling and Sikkim as it's neigbours on the Indian side. Within altitudes ranging from from 1800 meters and above, the small villages of Panchthar are still strangers to the outside world. The majestic view of Kanchanjunga, the 3rd tallest mountain in the world, stretching its dazzling white beds of snow over the remotness of Panchthar hills, are still yet, left to discover.

Why TEA

There's a saying about tea plants. " The bearer of a tea plant passes from a father planting it to a son nourishing it and the grandkid finally enjoying the fruit".

Panchthar district's discovery about the rich soil quality for tea plantation has embarked a much awareness to this next cash crop. Tea estates in the neighbouring Illam, Darjeeling and Sikkim are not only known as the best tea producing wonders but they have also played a critical role on upllifting the social and economic stablity of their communities. Their tea are consumed all over the world and brings a substantial amount of profit that is invested back to the communities But unfortuately, the small teas estates in Panchthar still lacks that privilege.

The tea market seems to hold a very bright future for the small tea estates of Panchthar. Tea plantations are replacing over some of the areas that once stood as wet grasslands only. People are already getting employment and a small part of the trade. But there's a bigger opportunity. Darjeeling and Silkkim tea plants are getting old and the ones that can fulfil the demanding market and be a more part of the share, is tea estates like Panchthar.

Phase 1

The tea gardens around Khunga villages are USDA 100% Organic certified by NASAA, an Australian agency that inspects organic production and handling operations to certify that they meet the USDA standards.

The quality of the soil, climate, hand processing and the cool breezes of Kanchanjunga are all very critical to its growth and taste.The tea gardens in Khunga village are in their best forms of qualitative producing and ready for plucking. But because of inadequate resouces, these organic black teas haven't been introduced to the markets yet. Our role it to build a bridge between them and us so they can administer a bigger market.

Phase 2

Our attempt on bringing sustainability through trade is a model that can turn out to be a long term economic stability to the Khunga village. Our support to introduce them into the international markets will bring economic prosperity and set them free from relying on foreign aid. Yaksa Nepal's motive to introduce and support income generating programes like Khunga Village, can be a great model for a country like Nepal. "Replace Aid with Trade" is a must model for Nepal whose developments are only prospered through foreign aids. By providing adequate resources and funding, Yaksa Nepal wants to continue the research with newer approaches and implement distinctive programes so the villages and can be self dependency.

Solution

Replacing Aid with Trade is the only way of bringing long term sustainability in rural areas. Numerous amount of foreign aid pours into the country every year for rural development only to get disperse at the hands of the crook politicians and never makes it further than their own backyards. But the Himalayas and it's backyards are the most valuable treasures of Nepal. Often times, they are either lost in translation or deprived from development. Now, it is our responsibility to join hands and work togather to build it up and be the founders of "Naya Nepal". If we nourish these tea plants today, just think that we and our next generations, all can equally be a part of the profit sharing for the next 40 years to come.