Farmers of Samkhar Gewog in Trashigang are increasingly turning to cardamom cultivation. With earnings ranging from a few hundred thousand to more than a million ngultrum, cardamom has now become the main source of income for many households.
This season, many farmers in Kapang-Yenang Brangsa chiwog have started clearing bushes on their fallow land.
From March to October, the farmers will transplant cardamom saplings to these lands.
For some, they are planting cardamom for the first time. While others have earned between Nu 1,500 and 1,700 per kilogramme of cardamom and at least Nu 7 per sapling.
Dargay, a farmer said, “I have planted more than two thousand cardamom saplings this time. I am growing it for the first time and don’t have much experience. However, I decided to focus on it because it brings a good income.”
Tendi Wangmo, another farmer said “Last year, I earned around Nu 250,000 from selling cardamom and saplings. This year, I earned Nu 200,000 from saplings alone. We have not yet harvested cardamom.”
Likewise, Karma Choden said, “We don’t have any other source of income. We have to meet our daily expenses, including children’s expenditure, and it keeps on increasing. That is why we cultivate cardamom. This year, I earned about Nu 200,000 from selling saplings, and I expect to earn around Nu 300,000 from cardamom.”
Similarly, farmers in other chiwogs are equally engaged in cardamom cultivation.
Most farmers sell their produce to local dealers, while some even transport it to Phuentshogling.
Around 240 households produced nearly 12 metric tonnes of cardamom last year.
With more farmers taking up cultivation, production in Samkhar Gewog is expected to increase in the coming years.
Sonam Darjay, Trashigang
Edited by Tshering Zam
