Mangalbare, March 29:

Cardamom export from Ilam plummeted by over 50 per cent in the first six months of the current fiscal year, according to the eastern regional trade and export promotion centre.

Centre officials said Ilam exported 35 tonnes of cardamom worth Rs 5.65 million during the period, against an export of 87 tonnes cardamom worth Rs 12.54 million during the corresponding period last year.

The export plummeted after other countries except Pakistan and Bangladesh did not buy cardamom from Nepal. Besides, production was also low due to crop diseases. Ilam, Dhankuta, Bhojpur, Sankhuwasabha and Panchthar are considered the country’s cardamom basket. Over 80 per cent of the produce is exported to countries including India.

The district agriculture development office, Ilam, has been advising farmers to pay more attention to diseases and pest management and to plant disease-resistant varieties. It said Ramshahi, Golshahi, Chibeshahi, Dambarshahi and Bhorlange varieties of cardamom were resistant to many diseases.

Last year, Nepal produced 784 tonnes of cardamom from 746 hectares of land.