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Trade and Value Chain Governance of Large Cardamom in Nepal

2019; Volume: 3; Issue: 8 Linguagem: Inglês

10.31080/asag.2019.03.0575

2581-365X

Sushil Chandra Sapkota,

Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Agriculture

Large cardamom (Amomum subulatum Roxburgh.) is an important high value spice crop having high potential cultivated mostly in the Eastern Himalayan regions of Nepal, Bhutan and few Indian states.Large cardamom is found to be used in foods, beverages, and has enormous medicinal values.In Nepal, Ilam, Panchthar, Sankhuwasabha and Taplejung are the major cardamom producing districts.About 73% of total national production still comes from these four districts.Major cultivars of large cardamom grown in Nepal are Ramsai, Golsai, Chibesai, Dambersai, Sawney and Kanti daar.Trade is a complex phenomenon involving selling and buying of goods and services between two or more parties in consideration of cash and cash equivalents.Large cardamom has been the main exportable commercial crop since 1960s, and has contributed 2.25 percent in the total export from Nepal during 1974/75 to 2014/15.The contribution was further extended to more than 4% during 2010s.According to Ministry of Agricultural Development, in 2013/14, it is grown in 40 districts which occupy 14,847 hector with productive area of 11,501 hector and produces 5,225 MT with productivity of 0.45 MT/Ha.Cardamom makes it's more than 90% of its sales to India without value addition.Due to non-existence of any central marketing facility or an auction market in the country, the price of the commodity is dictated by the terminal markets in India and local farmers including DADOs and LCEAN.Shortcomings in Nepalese cardamom production are remaining for insufficient saplings supply; large ageing of shading plants, lack of research outputs and quality based improved dryers.Weaknesses are also seen in marketing and trade as lacking of Auction Market, ware house, suitable brandings, equipped quarantine laboratory as well as organized trading systems are importantly exist.Similarly, it bears a huge possibilities in terms of climatic suitability and sufficient land availability.