PANCHTHAR: Cardamom, an expensive cash crop, worth Rs 1.41 billion was exported from Panchthar district in the fiscal year 2071/72 BS.

According to the District Agricultural Development Office, the district exported a total of 564 metric tonnes, out of 627 metric tonnes production, of cardamom in the last fiscal year. It is said that per tonne cardamom also known as brown gold was sold for Rs 2.5 million.

A technician at the Office, Dilli Poudyal, said that the overall production decreased in the last fiscal year but the price of the cardamom went up.

A large chunk of export was made through the Birtamod customs point.

Ranitar, Lungrupa, Sidin, Memeng, Prangbung, Yektin, Rabi, Sarangdanda, Angsarang, Kurumba, Phaktep, Chilingden, Nagi and some other VDCs in the district are the pocket areas for cardamom production in the district.