Kimathanka, Oct 28: The price of black cardamom has improved in Sankhuwasabha this year, following a decade-long fall. Now the price of this cash crop has reached Rs 90,000 per maund or mann (40 kilos).
Around a decade ago, its price for 4o kilos was around 120,000 and later it significantly dropped to Rs 25,000. According to Black Cardamom Entrepreneurs Federation’s Sankhuwasabha Chair Kumar Shrestha, the price soared with an increasing demand for the produce in international market. Last year’s its was traded at Rs 60,000-65,000 per mann.
It is said the fall in the production is another factor behind the rise in the price.
Black cardamom is one of the major cash crops for farmers in eastern hilly and highly districts including Sankhuwasabha. Some ninety-eight percent of the produce in the district exported outside the country. India serves as the major market for the produce.
In the district, the cardamom farming spreads to 2,871 hectares of land. As farmers said, most of cardamom gardens have old plants which has subsequently led to the fall in the production. Last year, the production was 940 metric tons and this year, the production is expected to decline. #cardamom #nepal #rss
