January 31: Black cardamom falls among the top five exports of Nepal. According to the records of the Department of Customs, Nepal exported 28,66,760 kg of black cardamom worth more than Rs 3.9 billion from mid-July to mid-January of the current fiscal year (FY).

During the corresponding period of last year, the country exported a total of 46,73,224 kg of black cardamom worth Rs 3.74 billion.

Compared to the same period last year, black cardamom exports declined by 38.65 percent in terms of quantity but it increased by 4.48 percent in terms of value.

According to the data of the Department of Customs, 100 percent of the black cardamom were exported to India in the current fiscal year.

Nirmal Bhattarai, president of the Nepal Black Cardamom Traders Association, said that the export of cardamom declined this year because the production of black cardamom decreased by 50 percent this year compared to last year.

He said that although the quantity of export has decreased, it has fetched better price than last year.

"Although the export volume has decreased, the income from export of black cardamom has increased due to the increase in the price of black cardamom," he said, adding, "This year, it did not rain at the right time."

Due to lack of timely rain, many cardamom plants dried up this year during flowering season.

Similarly, the farmers also did not put much effort for production as they did not get good price last year.

Now the price of normal quality cardamom is Rs 77,000 per 40 kg and the price of jumbo jet (JJ) quality is Rs 80,000 per 40 kg.

Bhattarai said that the production of black cardamom was 8,000 metric tons last year which is estimated to drop to 4,500 metric tons this year. At present, cardamom is cultivated commercially in 43 districts of Nepal although it can be cultivated in 53 districts.