January 7: The price of black cardamom has increased by three folds this season, bringing happiness to the farmers. Black cardamom is now being sold at the highest price in the past four years. Trader Jeevan Pandey said that the price of black cardamom.

Black cardamom is now being sold at the highest price in the past four years. Trader Jeevan Pandey said that the price of black cardamom has increased by almost three folds than last year. The price was Rs 28,000 per quintal last year but good quality of black cardamom is now being sold at Rs 85,000 per quintal.    

According to Pandey, the price of black cardamom has increased this year because there is not enough black cardamom as per its demand in the international market.       Biren Shereng of Suryodaya municipality-1 has cultivated black  cardamom in an area of about 100 ropanis of land. He says he produces 27 to 30 metric tons of black cardamom annually and saves at least one million rupees.       

The income of black cardamom farmers of Ilam have started to increase with the use of modern farming system.      This year, 1,325 metric tons of black cardamom has been produced in the district. This is 7.96 percent more than the previous year. According to Agriculture Knowledge Centre, Ilam, black cardamom is cultivated in 1,753 hectares of land in the district.     

According to Runa Khadka, an employee of the Centre, 1,215.26 metric tons of cardamom was produced last year when it was cultivated in 1,755 hectares. Though cardamom plantations have decreased, production and productivity have increased this year. Khadka said that the productivity per hectare was 0.69 last year which increased to 0.75 per hectare in the current year.     

In Ilam, black cardamom is grown in all the 10 local levels including six rural municipalities and four municipalities. However, it is more extensive in Maijogmai and Sandakpur rural municipalities. Cardamom is grown at an altitude of 700 to 2100 meters above the sea level. -- RSS