Taplejung: The price of black cardamom, a popular cash crop in eastern hilly region of Nepal, has fallen again. Until a week ago, the price of cardamom was traded at the rate of Rs 26,000 for 100 kg in Jhapa’s Birtamod, but now it has come down to Rs 24,000.
When the new production started this year, it was traded at the rate of Rs. 28 to 29 thousand. Cardamom traders have said that the price has decreased gradually and now it has dropped to Rs 24,000. Cardamom businessman Narendra Tiwari said that the price of cardamom has not increased due to low demand this year.
He argues that there has been an increase in the production of cardamom in recent times, but the price has not increased. He has collected about 40,000 kg cardamoms this year. Half of which has been taken from farmers at the rate of Rs. 29,000. He said that since there was no market and price, all the cardamom was stored in the warehouse.
On the other hand, the farmers are also waiting for the good price. Raj Kumar Bhattarai, a farmer of Sirijungha-7 Khewang, said that there is confusion because the prices keep going up and down.
Big traders are also in trouble as they have to rely on India for the cardamom market. Last year, there was a transaction at the rate of Rs 48,000 for 100 kg. Businessmen have said that since then the price is gradually decreasing.
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