forces. Indian influence in Nepal Terai After the 2008 Nepalese Constituent Assembly election, Indian politicians kept on trying to secure strategic interests in the Nepal Terai, such as over hydropower energy, development projects, business and trade. The government of Nepal has accused India of imposing an undeclared blockade in 2015. Humanitarian works Dhurmus Suntali Foundation handed over an integrated community containing 50 houses to Musahar community of Bardibas at a cost of Rs. 63 million. Economy Economy in Nepal Terai The Terai is the most productive region in Nepal with the majority of the country's industries. Agriculture is the basis of the economy. Major crops include rice, wheat, maize, potato, peas, lentil, mustard, sugar cane, ginger, turmeric, cardamom, garlic and chili. Fruits comprise mango, lychee, guava, papaya, banana and jackfruit. The Terai is also known for beekeeping and honey production, with about 120,000 colonies of Apis cerana. In the Jhapa district, tea has been cultivated since 1960; the annual production of 2005 was estimated at 10.1 million kg. The Mahendra Highway crosses the Nepal Terai from Kankarbhitta on the eastern border in Jhapa District, Province No. 1 to Mahendranagar near the western border in Kanchanpur District, Mahakali Zone. It is the only motor road spanning the country from east to west. Economy in Indian Terai Tea cultivation was introduced in the Darjeeling Terai in 1862. Tourism Tourist attractions in the Terai include: Har Ki Pauri on the banks of the Ganges where the river enters the Terai plains Lumbini, birthplace of Buddha Janakpur References Bibliography Further reading Chaudhary, D. 2011. Tarai/Madhesh of Nepal : an anthropological study. Ratna Pustak Bhandar, Kathmandu. . External links WWF: Map of ecological divisions of Nepal, showing the Terai Terai districts of Nepal in the past Plains of Nepal Plains of India Grasslands of India Grasslands of Nepal Grasslands of Bhutan Geography of Uttarakhand Landforms of Uttarakhand Wetlands of Nepal Ganges basin Ecoregions of the Himalayas Indomalayan ecoregions