February 25: The farmers of Taplejung district are elated with the increase in the price of black cardamom, which is commonly known as 'black gold' here. The market of black cardamom is also encouraging this year. The price of black cardamom has increased by more than two-folds compared to last year, said the locals. The price of black cardamom has reached an all-time high in the past five years.   

The farmers said that the price of black cardamom has reached upto Rs 80,000 per 40 kilograms this year while it was sold at Rs 26,000 to Rs 32,000 per 40 kilograms in the local market last year.   

Chairman of Black Cardamom Entrepreneurs Association, Taplejung, Bhadra Bir Regmi shared that most of the farmers sold black cardamom at Rs 70,000 to Rs 80,000 per 40 kilograms this season.

"It was sold at Rs 60,000 in the early days while the price hit Rs 80,000 two weeks ago. Now, per 40 kg black cardamom is being sold at Rs 79,000," he shared.   

Black cardamom entrepreneur Dinesh Adhikari of Phungling Municipality-5 said that the price of black cardamom soared this year due to its high demand in the international market. "Price of black cardamom in Nepal increased due to high demand in the international market and limited production in India in the recent time," Adhikari argued.   

According to Adhikari, more than 80 per cent of the farmers sold out their products here and they are truly elated from the good price.   

Black cardamom is grown in some 4,500 hectares of land in Taplejung and around 2,500 metric tonnes is produced each year, the Agriculture Knowledge Centre, Taplejung said.   

With the good price, the farmers, who are enthusiastic about black cardamom cultivation as an important cash crop, are happy as a result of higher rate in the market. Around 60 wards in the district grow black cardamom. Its production in Taplejung has increased due to favorable weather and low incidence of diseases. The farmers in the district have been attracted to the cultivation of black cardamom as they make a decent earning even by giving a little time.-- RSS