Gorkha unrest: Darjeeling's loss is Nepal's gain

After losing its 2nd flush harvest, Darjeeling tea gardens will miss out on contracts with EU, US

Gorkhaland protests that have shut down Darjeeling for more than a fortnight have also hit tea production in the district — and neighbouring Nepal is likely to be a beneficiary.

Almost all the 87 tea gardens in Darjeeling, having lost their most import second flush, is likely to fail on forward export contracts with the European Union (EU), Japan and the US, its major markets. Producers of Nepal’s Illam tea — the closest substitute of the legendary Darjeeling variety — will try to exploit this opportunity.

Major tea producers of this district in north Bengal have incurred a Rs 150-crore