Kimathanka (Sankhuwasabha), Oct 28 : Price of the black cardamom has increased in Sankhuwasabha this year, following a decade-long fall. Now the price of the cash crop has reached Rs 90,000 per mann (40 kg).
Around a decade back, price for 4o
kg of cardamom fetched around Rs 120,000 and later it sharply declined 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 the international market.
Last year it 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 the eastern hilly and mountainous districts including
Sankhuwasabha. Some ninety-eight percent of the produce in the district is
exported outside the country.
India serves as the major market
for the produce.
In the district, the cardamom
farming covers 2,871 hectares of land. As farmers said, most of cardamom
gardens have old plants which have subsequently led to the fall in the
production.
Last year the production was 940
metric tons, which is likely to decrease this year. (RSS)