Kathmandu—Sancho (Herbs Production and Processing Company Ltd), a prominent herbal manufacturer in Nepal, has resumed production after suffering heavy damage during violent pro-monarchy protests in Chaitra.

The protests led to widespread vandalism and arson at the company’s central facility, resulting in a complete halt to operations. Now, with demand rebounding, the company has prioritized the production of its most popular product, Sancho, a widely used herbal oil. According to company spokesperson Dharmalal Nepal, daily production has restarted at around 50 cartons to meet seasonal market demand.

“Sancho has strong demand in the summer and even more in the winter. Based on current market needs, we have resumed production accordingly,” Nepal stated, adding that it may take another six months to a year to fully return to pre-crisis levels.

The company is currently relying on manual machines after automated machinery was destroyed in the fire. Reconstruction and procurement of new equipment, including rebuilding the facility, are expected to take time.

Fortunately, raw materials stored in the company’s regional branches in Morang, Sunsari, and Jajarkot were untouched, enabling a quicker restart of Sancho production. For now, only the 5 ml variant of Sancho is being produced, while the 10 ml version remains on hold.

Established in 2038 B.S., the company began producing Sancho in 2056 B.S., and the herbal oil has since gained popularity both within Nepal and abroad. Sancho remains unmatched by private competitors in terms of reach and reputation and generates annual revenue of over NPR 110 million. It is considered the company’s flagship product and a cornerstone of its operations.

The fire caused by the riots resulted in damages estimated at NPR 280 million. Thirteen company vehicles, six motorcycles, raw materials, and a large stock of prepared herbal medicines were destroyed. The company has already submitted a request to the Ministry of Finance for NPR 100 million in reconstruction support.

In addition to Sancho, the company produces Sancho Balm, Balm Oil, Sancho Jata Hair Oil, and Sancho Pain Relief Oil, positioning itself as a key player in Nepal’s herbal and traditional medicine sector.