Farmers get unfair prices despite high cardamom production

Cardamom production has increased in the Khotang district. According to the Agriculture Knowledge Center Khotang, the production of cardamom has increased by 245 metric tons in the last fiscal year as compared to the previous fiscal year.

According to the Center, the production of cardamom was 542 metric tonnes in the fiscal year 2020/21 and 787 metric tonnes in this fiscal year. Despite the increase in production, it has not been able to get a fair price. Farmers, who are enthusiastic about cardamom cultivation as an important cash crop, are disappointed as they are not getting fair prices.

Although the farmers of the district have started to increase the production of cardamom due to the good price of cardamom at one time, the cardamom farmers are getting frustrated as they are not able to get a fair price. According to the farmers, cardamom, which was sold at Rs 3,000 to Rs 3,500 per kg last year, is now sold at Rs 875 to Rs 1,000 per kg.

Cardamom production in the district has increased this year due to favorable weather and low incidence of diseases, said Sanjay Kumar Pandit, Information Officer at the Center and Agriculture Extension Officer. Out of the 14 thousand two hectare area suitable for cardamom cultivation in the district, 10 thousand 64 hectare land was planted this year. 

Most of the cardamom produced there has already been exported and some are in the process of export. Some farmers are also planning to increase the market price of cardamom and sell it at the same time. To buy cardamom, the contractor has been taking tractors to the houses of the farmers. Although the price of cardamom has been declining for some years now, the attraction of farmers towards its commercial cultivation has not diminished. Farmers who have started cardamom cultivation from a few acres of land are expanding the area under cardamom cultivation every year. Some have even started commercial cultivation of cardamom by renting land.

The farmers of the district have been attracted to cardamom cultivation as they earn a decent income even by giving a little time for cardamom. Due to the good prices of cardamom in the past, the farmers who used to cultivate cardamom for their livelihood have been able to produce cardamom even after taking loans in winter and rainy season, but now they are frustrated as they are not getting fair price.