Cardamom (Elaichi) is the main source of income for farmers of Kezari Village under Darla Gewog in Chhukha. However, wilting of cardamom plants has ripped away the hopes of farmers there.
Cardamom crops in abundance can be seen in all the farms of the village. But sadly, the plants have turned yellow-indicating it will bear no fruits in times to come.
Villagers are now extremely worried that cardamom farming will no longer help them to eke out a living. A farmer named Kabayla said, “It has been three years since we have started growing cardamom. And if the crop completely dries out, we are afraid we would be left with no option.”
Before staring cardamom cultivation, Kezari farmers relied on oranges as the main cash crop. But, their massive wilting compelled farmers to switch to other crop cultivation.
Falling cardamom price leaves farmers high and dry
Another big reason for farmers to worry regarding the cardamom farming is the crop doesn’t fetch higher returns like before. In 2016, a kilogram of cardamom would fetch Nu 1500 but last year, the return was around Nu 800.
“With declining rate of cardamom in the market, we are anxious we may not have much cash for household operations,” said Budhiman Sunar, a cardamon farmer.
Meanwhile, the dzongkhag agriculture officials said, cardamom needs 50 per cent shade to grow well, but in Kezari, the plants are not even under five per cent of shade.
Officials point out that the village has fertile soil to grow summer vegetables and avocado too.
