ILAM: Due to spread of coronavirus and lockdown in eastern Nepal, exports of Nepali agricultural products to India have badly hampered. Indian market were closed during the main export season as closure of Nepal-India border points.
April and May are the main seasons for the export of agricultural commodities. Nepali businessmen do business in India as the prices are remarkable this season. This time, the Indian market has also slowed down due to the new variant of the Coronavirus. Also, Indian markets and entry points to India are closed.
At present, 30 percent of the cardamom produced in Nepal is with entrepreneurs, says Matrika Ghimire, secretary of the Cardamom Entrepreneurs’ Association. “The market is in turmoil. We don’t know how to expand it,” he said. According to Ghimire, new cardamom will be ready in the next three months. After the new cardamom is produced, the old one does not find a market.
“We do not have the strength to purchase the cardamom brought by the farmers now. The price of cardamom is Rs 40,000 per 40 kg,” said Ghimire. “Even in Jhapa, the risk of coronavirus is high. India is now the main market for cardamom. That is why farmers / entrepreneurs should sell their crops at the market price set by India.”
When there is a problem in India, Nepali agro-products do not find a market and have to be delivered at a lower price. Sometimes, Indian business communities and authorities make artificial fuss. “People are dying because of coronavirus now. We can’t even say that we will be able to sell our products,” said Krishna Poudel, a businessman from Bibliante, Ilam.
There is no difference not only in cardamom but also in ginger. This is the main season for ginger harvest like cardamom but the harvesting is almost zero. “Baby ginger is produced in India now, so there is no price for Nepali ginger,” said businessman Matrika Ghimire. Farmers sell old ginger shortly after it is planted. This will make the baby or new ginger grow, but not in India.
New production of ginger will start in the next two months. That is why the businessman should have sold the ginger they have now. This time, businessmen are disappointed because of COVID-19.
At present, the price of new ginger is Rs 800 per quintal and the price of seed ginger is Rs 2,000 per quintal. This value is lower than normal. The quantity of Nepali ginger and cardamom in the international market is decreasing every year.
