Nepal becomes world's largest producer, exporter of cardamom

Kathmandu, Oct 31 (UNI) Nepal has become the global leader in production and export of large cardamom, surpassing India and Bhutan.

As much as 51 per cent of large cardamom traded across the world is exported from Nepal.

Nepal, India and Bhutan produced a total of 12,832 tonnes of large cardamom in 2005-06, of which 6,647 tonnes were produced in Nepal alone.

The Kathmandu Post quoting a report of International Trade Center reported that Nepal exported 90 per cent of its total cardamom production to India, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Singapore, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Afghanistan and the Unites States during the period.

''The trade of cardamom during the year was valued at Rs 800 million and reached about Rs 1 billion in the last fiscal. India is the largest importer of the Nepali cardamom. It is also the second biggest exporter of the product,'' the report said, adding that cardamom can well become the largest export for Nepal, surpassing woolen carpet and ready-made garments.

UNI