TAPLEJUNG: The farmers in the district of Taplejung are elated with the increased price and good market for cardamom, which is commonly known as ‘black gold’ here.

The price of cardamom has increased by more than two-fold compared to the last year, which is the all-time high in the past five years, locals said.

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

Chairman of Cardamom Entrepreneurs Association, Taplejung, Bhadra Bir Regmi shared that most of the farmers sold 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. And, the price hit Rs 80,000 two weeks ago. Now, per 40 kg cardamom is being sold at Rs 79,000,” he shared.

Cardamom entrepreneur Dinesh Adhikari of Phungling Municipality-5 said that the price of cardamom soared this year due to its high demand in the international market.

“Price of Nepali cardamom 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 productions here and they are truly elated from the good price.

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 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 cardamom. Cardamom production in Taplejung has increased due to favorable weather and low incidence of diseases.

The farmers in the district have been attracted to cardamom cultivation as they make a decent earning even by giving a little time for cardamom.

RSS