Residents of Gawailing Village in Samdrup Jongkhar’s Lauri Gewog embraced cardamom cultivation a few years ago, with the spice becoming their primary source of income. However, any hope that the crop would transform their livelihood is proving short-lived, with the plants now beginning to die. Villagers fear their newfound lifeline may not last, leaving them anxious about the future.
Yeshi Wangdi is one of the cardamom growers in Lauri Gewog. For Yeshi, supporting his family depends on a good cardamom harvest. He cultivated the spice on about two acres and earned about Nu 350,000 last year. This season, harvesting will begin next month.
“I was unable to get a good harvest from maize and other vegetables because of wildlife, so I started cultivating cardamom, which is now my main source of income. With the income from its sale, I can look after my children.”
“Cardamom is better compared to other crops. Last year, we got Nu 1,500 per kilogram. After selling all my cardamom, I earned more than Nu 100,000,” said Tendel Zangmo, Cardamom Grower, Lauri Gewog, Samdrup Jongkhar.
But this year, villagers are witnessing some cardamom plants wilting and dying, raising concern about a possible mass outbreak which could impact their livelihoods.
“Last year, my cardamom plants did not die, and I was able to earn about Nu 200,000. But this year, some plants are dying, and I am worried. Without rain, the plants are dying in the sun,” said Yeshi Zangpo, Cardamom Grower, Lauri Gewog, Samdrup Jongkhar.
“Cardamom plants usually die after five to six years, but now even plants that are only two to three years old are dying. Pests are infecting them, and right now, only one to two plants are affected. If this continues, all our hard work will go in vain,” said Yeshi Wangdi, Cardamom Grower, Lauri Gewog, Samdrup Jongkhar.
“Pests are killing the cardamom plants. Right now, the damage is not severe, but we fear it may spread, and we are worried that our hard work may be wasted,” said Tendel Zangmo, Cardamom Grower, Lauri Gewog, Samdrup Jongkhar.
Meanwhile, the gewog agriculture extension office says farmers have not officially reported any cases. However, officials are planning to visit the affected households to study and carry out preventive measures.
In Samdrup Jongkhar, all 11 gewogs cultivate cardamom, with Lauri, Serthig and Martshala gewogs heavily depending on the spice for their livelihood.
Annually, the district produces nearly 170 tons or roughly 16 truckloads of cardamom.
Kinley Wangchuk, Samdrup Jongkhar
Edited by Phub Gyem
