ILAM, April 2: The tea industry in Ilam district is facing losses of millions of Rupees as the farmers have not been able to pick green tea from the tea gardens due to the lockdown. The lockdown came into effect as the farmers were preparing to pluck quality tea leaves. The tea leaves are outgrowing because of the delay in plucking.

ILAM, Jan 22: Ilam is famous for its tea gardens but the government's apathy towards conservation and promotion of Nepali tea is a serious concern for tea entrepreneurs. According to tea experts, tea gardens which have been privatized contain precious tea plants but it lacks conservation and expansion. Government should designate conservation area and expand the precious plant but at present it is produced as normal tea, and sold for nominal prices.

In between the  morning sips of my favorite cup of  tea, I could not help wry smiles as I listened to the song Aljhechha Kyare Pacchyauri Timro Chiya ko Buta maa (perhaps your shawl is caught in the tea bush), in the backdrop of beautiful tea gardens and maidens picking up the tea leaves in my television screen. The cocktail of romance and melancholy of Bhupi Serchan and Narayan Gopal in this song has intoxicated a generation of Nepali listeners, myself included.