The production of large cardamom in Lamjung has nearly doubled due to an increase in the area under cultivation and favourable weather this year. The higher rates of return have encouraged farmers to grow this spice plant on more land.

According to Large Cardamom Traders Association Lamjung, 62 tonnes of large cardamom were produced in Lamjung this year, a big jump from last year’s figure of 35 tonnes. The high-value large cardamom has become a good source of income for many farmers here. It is cultivated in 28 village development committees (VDCs) of the district.

One farmer earned Rs1.4 million by selling large cardamom this year. Local farmers said that they had sold their large cardamom crops to middlemen for Rs1,800 to Rs2,150 per kg. Last year, they had received Rs1,900 per kg.

The association said that total revenues for cardamom growers in the district amounted to Rs124 million this year compared to Rs64.7 million last year. Large cardamom is now grown on 200 hectares in the district.

According to the District Agriculture Development Office, the spice plant was cultivated on another 60 hectares last year. Large cardamom becomes ready for harvest three years after being planted.

Ajay Tamang, president of the association, said that large cardamom had been planted on 150 hectares, but only the crop planted on 105 hectares had become ready for harvesting.

Banjhkhet village, where cardamom had been planted three years ago, produced 10 tonnes this year. Farmers in the village earned Rs20.6 million from their crops.

Kalu Tamang of Khanche village who started growing cardamom in 1984, earned Rs1.3 million this year. Likewise, Tirtha Tamang of the same village produced 1.4 tonnes of large cardamom this year while the output last year stood at 0.3 tonnes.

Senior Agriculture Development Officer Krishna Bhadra Adhikari said that Bhulbhule village with an output of 14.8 tonnes was the largest producer among the villages where large cardamom is grown. It was followed by Banjkhet village which produced 12.1 tonnes.

“The crop has brought big changes to the lives of the farmers here,” said Adhikari. “We have encouraged them to produce large cardamom saplings in their villages, and barred them from bringing plants from other districts.”

According to him, the office has been providing a 50 percent subsidy on cardamom saplings besides providing technical assistance to the farmers. The Lamjung Chamber of Commerce and Industry has also been assisting the growers under the “One Village, One Product” scheme. The main market for the large cardamom produced in the district is India.