Farmers of Gorkha turn to cardamom farming

By Gun Bahadur Roka, Sulikot, Dec 29:  Farmers of Siranchok Rural Municipality-2 in Gorkha district are lately getting attracted towards cardamom farming. 

Farmers who are in search of an alternate cash crop for farming in line with not getting handsome returns as expected from traditional farming have started adopting cardamom cultivation as a long-term and profitable option.

Officials of the Siranchok Rural Municipality said that cardamom cultivation has been expanding in the last few years as its climate, altitude, and soil are suitable for it.

Previously, a limited number of farmers planted cardamom for testing; however, with good yields, many others were also inspired to do the same.

A farmer of Siranchok Rural Municipality-2, Dol Bahadur Gurung, said that cardamom farming has now been expanded in hundreds of acres of land in various wards of Siranchok Rural Municipality.

He said that once a tree is planted, the fruit can yield for a long period of time; therefore, labor and investment are comparatively less in a cardamom plantation.

Since both its demand and price are good in the market, the source of income has also become strong.

Farmers in Siranchok said that some young people who were previously attracted to foreign jobs or other professions have also started cultivating cardamom in their villages.

The farmers have been receiving technical assistance, training, and some grants from the rural municipality and the agriculture department.

Farmers said that production has improved after receiving information about disease control, nursery management, and modern farming techniques.

It is believed that cardamom cultivation will play an important role in raising the living standards of farmers in Siranchok-2 if production, processing, and marketing can be managed.

In this way, cardamom cultivation is hoped to make the farmers of Siranchowk self-reliant and lead to economic prosperity.