Nepalese land is inhabited by numerous types of flora and fauna though being a small landlocked country. But it does not make any sense if we keep on claiming that we are naturally rich unless and until we actually utilize it and economically productive output can be generated out of it. There are many such agricultural commodities which are highly produced in the country but due to un-commercialized trade and hooliganism in business, and lack of proper subsidies many farmers are getting demotivated from the agricultural production. Nepalese call agriculture the backbone of the country but unfortunately, the government policies, both fiscal and monetary, treat it like appendix in the body, which is amputated as and when it gets problematic. Cardamom is one of the cash crops which can generate high value and can cause the social well-being but the challenges have been threatening the overall production and trading of cardamom.

Cardamom is a very money-spinning cash commodity of Nepal.  It is usually grown in the marginal and semi-marginal types of land in the hill region in Nepal. More than 30 districts are involved in the production and cultivation of cardamom in Nepal, but the domination has been by the hills in the Eastern Development Region of the country.  When we look into the production statistics, around 94 percent of the total production of cardamom is brought into effect by the Eastern Development Region of the country, especially Taplejung, Sankhuwasabha, Khotong, Ilam, Panchthar, etc.

Nepal has an impressive production of the commodity. Again, the production data suggests that the total production of large cardamom was around 7087 MT in the year 2007/08 but the production has come down to 6026 MT coming to the year 2011/12. Why would have this occurred? Very few and general reasons are farmers nor being given the subsidies, the problem with the village collection centers, the forceful carteling done by handful of  powerful businessmen in the Eastern region. Though there are more than 30 thousand farmer families involved with the cardamom production, the power of money has won the game.

Government has to take some initiative definitely if it wants the citizens to be better-off. Its high time government proves its existence or else this trend seems to take down other commodities with it too.