KIMATHANKA, OCTOBER 28

Price of the black cardamom has increased in Sankhuwasabha this year, following a decade-long fall.

Now the price of the cash crop has reached Rs 90,000 per mann (40 kg).

Around a decade back, price for 4o kg of cardamom fetched around Rs 120,000 and later it sharply declined to Rs 25,000.

According to Black Cardamom Entrepreneurs Federation's Sankhuwasabha Chair, Kumar Shrestha, the price soared with an increasing demand for the produce in the international market. Last year it was traded at Rs 60,000-65,000 per mann.

It is said the fall in the production is another factor behind the rise in the price.

Black cardamom is one of the major cash crops for farmers in the eastern hilly and mountainous districts including Sankhuwasabha. Some ninety-eight percent of the produce in the district is exported outside the country.

India serves as the major market for the produce.

In the district, the cardamom farming covers 2,871 hectares of land. As farmers said, most of cardamom gardens have old plants which have subsequently led to the fall in the production.

Last year the production was 940 metric tons, which is likely to decrease this year.