Baglung, Jan 30: Cardamom production has increased in Baglung district, with farmers producing 48 metric tons last year due to expansion in cultivation areas.
According to the Agriculture Knowledge Center, farmers in the district earned Rs 60 million from cardamom sales in a single year. Balibhadra Sapkota, a farmer from Jaimini Municipality-2, stated that Baglung farmers receive lower prices compared to other districts. The selling price in Baglung was Rs 1,250 per kilogram.
The profitability of cardamom farming has attracted more farmers each year, leading to a steady expansion in cultivation. Three years ago in FY 2078/79 BS, 128 hectares of land were used for cardamom cultivation, producing 42 metric tons. At that time, farmers earned Rs 39.9 million, selling at Rs 950 per kg. However, one year later, in FY 2079/80, the cultivated area expanded to 131 hectares, but production declined to 38 metric tons due to diseases such as root rot and leaf wilting.
For the current FY 2081/82, farmers have already sold their harvest, and the Agriculture Knowledge Center is still compiling exact sales data.
Agriculture Officer Santosh Adhikari stated that 140 hectares are currently under cardamom cultivation, with 96 hectares actively producing. The government has also designated eight local levels in Baglung as part of an “Cardamom Production Zone” under the Prime Minister’s Agriculture Modernization Project. The program includes 12 pocket areas and 2 block areas for focused production.
Cardamom is primarily grown in Tarakhola, Kathekhola, Badigad, Barekot, and Nisikhola rural municipalities, along with Baglung, Jaimini, and Galkot municipalities. Proper management of cardamom farms allows production to continue for up to 10 years from a single plantation. Farmers categorize cardamom based on quality, selling at different price points accordingly.
Cardamom farming is quite popular in eastern hilly districts of Nepal, particularly Ilam, Panchthar, Taplejung, Tehrthum, Dankuta, among others.
Baglung is already well known for producing orange, where farmers sell thousands of metric tons of orange and earn good sum of money. #cardamom #baglung
