Farmers enthusiastic about cardamom cultivation

By Our Correspondent, Ilam, Mar. 31: It is now almost the end of the cardamom selling season. Although the season that began in Bhadra–Ashoj (August–September) is ending, cardamom is still being sold from villages across Ilam.

Traders said that the price of cardamom has remained almost stable throughout the season, ranging from Rs. 90,000 to 95,000 per man (40 kg) since the beginning.

Even as the season comes to an end, the price is ranging between Rs. 96,000 and Rs. 100,000 per man, according to Krishna Paudyal, president of the Ilam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

“Just recently, 15 mans of cardamom arrived from Maimajhuwa. This year, the price has directly benefited farmers. Traders have not kept much stock, which has made the rural economy quite active,” Paudyal said. 

“Farmers are directly spending the income from cardamom sales on their needs. They have not had to struggle much for cash.”

Nepali cardamom, which contributes to foreign currency earnings, has recently seen reduced exports to Gulf countries due to conflicts in the Middle East, he said.

However, farmers’ enthusiasm for cardamom farming in villages remains high. 

According to him, cardamom worth Rs. 3 billion is exported annually from Ilam alone.

This year, farmers in Ilam have produced and sold between 10 kilograms to as much as 15–20 mans of cardamom. 

Dasharath Paudyal, a farmer from Maimajhuwa who sold five mans of cardamom this year, expressed happiness over the good price.

“This year’s cardamom has been sold. I hope next year will also be good. There has been sufficient rainfall in winter. If we can apply fertiliser, the yield should be even better next year,” he said.

Farmers said that rainfall and hailstorm during February–March have also helped irrigate the crop.

The cardamom farming has expanded widely in the district as it requires relatively low investment and provides good returns.

Cardamom is currently cultivated in 54 districts across the country. 

According to the Cardamom Development Centre, cardamom is grown on 14,383 hectares of land. 

It is mainly produced in the hilly districts of Koshi Province such as Ilam, Panchthar, Taplejung, Tehrathum, Sankhuwasabha, Bhojpur, and Dhankuta.

This year, cardamom has also performed well among export commodities. 

According to trade statistics from the Department of Customs, cardamom worth Rs. 9.49 billion has been exported during the first eight months of the current fiscal year. About 4.6 million kilograms of cardamom were exported during the review period.

According to the Mechi Customs Office in Jhapa, about 4.3 million kilograms of cardamom worth Rs. 7.67 billion was exported in the last fiscal year 2024/25.