The government had established the lab in April with the objective of promoting commercial tea farming in the eastern region.
The first of its kind laboratory has been established in the premises of Tea Farming Expansion Project.[break]
Farmers from Ilam, Panchthar, Jhapa, Dhankuta, Udaypur, Baglung, Doti, Dadeldhura and Kaski districts have started bringing samples to the lab for soil analysis.
About 60 farmers interested to start tea farming have already tested their soil samples, according to Bhim Niraula, accountant at the lab. “Though this is first of its kind in Nepal, many farmers do not know about its existence in the lack of publicity,” said Niraula.
Though there already are soil test labs in Jhumka of Sunsari and Surunga of Jhapa, this is the only lab in Nepal specializing in soil testing for tea farming.
According to Niraula, the lab tests acidity level in soil and ascertains whether or not it is suitable for tea farming.
“We do not have sufficient equipment for advanced tests,” Niraula said, “We need digital weighing machine and flame photometer after which we will be able to carry out all types of investigations.”
The tests have showed that all the samples tested at the lab so far are suitable for tea farming.
The laboratory has also established a nursery of different varieties of tea in its premises. It has also been distributing tea saplings to tea farmers. It has already 25,000 saplings to the farmers.
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