Cardamom exports in Nepal have seen a significant increase of 62.5 percent in the first eight months of the current fiscal year, with total earnings likely to exceed a new high of Rs 11 billion this year.
According to the Department of Customs, Nepal exported 4,605 tonnes of large cardamom worth Rs 9.49 billion until mid-March this year. In comparison, Cardamom exports in Nepal stood at 4,301 tonnes worth Rs 7.68 billion in the entire previous fiscal year.
The major factors contributing to this growth in cardamom exports in Nepal this year are an increase in price and production. This year, cardamom was sold at a price range of Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,600 per kg on average, an increase of Rs 150-200 per kg over last season’s rate. This season’s production is also seen to have increased by 20-25 per cent.
The expansion in farming activities also has an important role to play in this case. Currently, cardamom is cultivated in around 52 districts compared to around 42-43 districts in previous years. The total cultivated land for cardamom production has also increased to around 20,000 hectares. The major districts where cardamom is produced include Ilam, Panchthar, Taplejung, Sankhuwasabha, Bhojpur, Dhankuta, and Tehrathum.
The major importer of cardamom from Nepal is India, covering around 99 percent of Nepal’s exports. From India, cardamom is further exported to other countries like Pakistan and those in the Middle East, where its demand is high.
Nepalese black cardamom is in high demand in international markets due to its unique smoky flavour, which is obtained through its traditional drying method in bhattis.
Globally, Nepal is ranked fifth in the list of cardamom producers and fourth in the list of cardamom exporters. Exports from Nepal have seen a considerable rise in the last ten years, indicating the growing demand for the spice globally.
With the demand for cardamom in the market, the rising prices, and the cultivation of the spice, Nepal is all set to touch a historical mark in the exports of the spice.
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