Farmers of Nabji and Korphu villages in Trongsa are major producers of cardamom in the central region of the country. Currently, the market rate of cardamom is higher, unlike the previous years. However, Nabji and Korphu farmers are unable to take advantage of the high market rates as their cardamom yield is significantly lesser this season compared to previous years.
Dophu from Korphu village has been growing cardamom for about a decade. The 48-year-old dries cardamom at optimum temperature and humidity to preserve the quality of the produce.
Dophu says it takes several hours or even overnight drying to retain its flavour and aroma.
Despite the promising price in the market today, Dophu says the decline in the yield due to many factors, has left him disheartened.
“Compared to last year, this time the yield is too low. Last year, we had good fruiting because of timely rainfall, and sunny weather during the flowering season. But this time, during the initial flowering season the weather remained dry. That could have led to the low yield this time.”
The lush green cardamom fields in Korphu stretch as far as the eye can see. But the low yield has dampened the spirit of the farmers.
Cardamom growers in Nabji and Korphu villages say the price of cardamom increased after almost a decade.
The spice fetches them between Nu 800 to 950 per kilogramme this season.
A few farmers growing cardamom on a large scale in Korphu say the government need to help on time.
“We are producing quite a substantial amount of cardamom but governments till now failed to address the market issue and never tried to find out a proper place to market our produce. Every time, we must depend on the Indian brokers who try to take commissions from our profit. So, I would like to appeal to whichever party that forms the government to address this issue and make access to market easy for us,” said Tenzin Jamtsho, a farmer.
“We usually sell cardamom in Gelephu and some local brokers also come here to buy the crop. But for me, I take it to Gelephu. Last year, I earned about five hundred thousand ngultrum and this time, the yield is very low when the price is soaring,” added Dophu.
Cardamom is the main source of cash income for the farmers of Korphu and Nabji villages.
They meet their daily expenses including children’s education from the income earned from selling the spice.
According to the Korphu Gewog, last year alone, farmers in the gewog sold about 50 metric tons of cardamom from about 400 acres of cardamom orchard.
Pema Samdrup, Trongsa
Edited by Phub Gyem
