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Large cardamom is one of the major contributors to Nepal’s foreign exchange earning. India is a major market for large cardamom produced in Nepal. From India, the spice is re-exported to Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Gulf countries and other overseas destinations.The major disease threat to large cardamom is Chirke and Furkey viral diseases. That did not deter farmers from growing large cardamom as prices have been on an upswing from the last two years. Growers have also been looking for disease-resistant varieties.Meanwhile, demand for large cardamom saplings is also on the rise. Uddav Poudel, an official of the Agriculture Development Office in Ilam, said the Large Cardamom Development Centre in Fikkal, Ilam, had received orders for 2 million saplings. However, the centre has not been able to fulfil demand.Farmers have also been encouraged by the government’s efforts to obtain a collective trademark for large cardamom.
In the last fiscal year, the government registered a collective trademark for cardamom which will be promoted as Everest Big Cardamom.After the trademark is registered, Nepali products can be exported directly to potential overseas markets and they will be able to get better prices, said Ishwori Prasad Ghimire, executive director of the Trade and Export Promotion Centre (TEPC). “However, Nepal needs to ensure better quality with proper processing and packaging to make the product marketable in the global market.” Anil Dhungana, chairman of the Large Cardamom Entrepreneurs Association, said that Nepali producers would be able to explore markets in other countries with the trademark. “It will help farmers to increase their income,” he said, adding that Nepali products used to be marketed under Indian brands earlier, and farmers did not get reasonable prices.
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