MILAN – D.S. Agro Industries Dhankuta is a model coffee farm high up on the mountain slopes of eastern Nepal dedicated to increasing the yield, production, and quality of coffee in Dhankuta. We talked about their values, goals and future steps with CEO (chief Executive Officer / Executive Director) Yubaraj Darnal, that has guided our readers through this family business, promoting and expanding the Nepali coffee sector.
From 2014, the year D.S. Agro was founded, to 2022: from Dillishwor Darnal to Sukha Maya Darnal to her son Yubaraj Darnal, in three generations, how has the company evolved?
“Mr. Dilishwor Darnal started the Company in 2014. He run the company with supports from my site. After he died the company transpired to the name of Sukamaya Darnal. That is a fact. But our Supports to operation of The company continues.”
Dhankuta District Coffee Producer Association started with 451 coffee farmers: has the number changed and how have you developed the network among producers?
“The number of farmers are change at the moment and number 875 active farmers in the District Coffee Producer Association Dhankuta. When we started the Coffee Farming in 2014 the Local Farmers were not convinced to plantation for the coffee plant. Because coffee farmers needed to wait 3-4 years for the returns and only invest for this year .
Farmers don’t have enough investment to wait up to the 3-4 years. So they started 50 plants coffee to plantation. After we requested to Local Government to support subsidy for the coffee pantation, after Local Government supported them and started the plantation. And after plantation we awared them about coffee potential opportunity self employee people are agree to join the Associations.”
What are the advantages of joining the association?
“For the farmers’ right, information, trainings and business opportunity.”
How many farmers are there in Nepal?
“31,000 Farmers are involved in the Coffee Production in Nepal.”
Which varieties are traditionally grown in Nepal, through which processes and to which markets do you export the green?
“Arabica coffee was traditionally grown in Nepal, as natural processes Nepal and also USA, Europe, Australian, Japan and Korea are markets where we export the green coffee.”
Do you only deal in specialty coffees and only single-origin coffees, or do you also have more commercial but still high-quality solutions?
“We deal specialty coffees and only single-origin coffees, or also have more commercial but still high-quality is our Moto.”
What are your agricultural best practices that you share with your farmers? What kind of innovation do you promote on the ground to improve raw material quality and to fight plant diseases and climate change?
“All our practices are organic with maintaining the biodiversity. The main innovation is to promote on the ground to improve raw material quality and to fight plant diseases and climate change is Garden Management.”
What strategies do you implement in terms of social impact – with respect to the conditions of young farmers and women in particular – and environmental impact, D.S. Agro?
“Main responsibility to aware the farmers for the income generates, good education for their children and good health for the family. We involved the young jobless people in the coffee sectors. Must priority given for whom returns from overseas job. “
And what can you tell us about your coffee nursery? How does it work?
“Our coffee nursery is certified from the Government Of Nepal National Tea & Coffee Development Board.
Our nursery belongs to the D.S Agro Industries and also it trains technician available to operate overall nursery when we selected the coffee seeds and ground before starting the nursery. Our nursery house is Hi-tech Nursery with all facilities available to coffee.”
So what are the next steps in the growth path of D.S. Agro and the specialty market in Nepal?
“To be one of the reputed Specialty Coffee farm in Nepal. And we served Farm to Cup in Nepal also supply Organic Specialty Coffee to Global.”
