Declining Large-Cardamom Production Systems in the Sikkim Himalayas: Climate Change Impacts, Agroeconomic Potential, and Revival Strategies

Sharma, Gaurav; Partap, Uma; Dahal, Dhundi Raj; Sharma, Durga P.; Sharma, Eklabya

doi:10.1659/mrd-journal-d-14-00122.1

Cited by 44 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 6 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Cardamom is a high value low volume crop having highest export value in terms of foreign currency earning (Sharma et al 2016). This crop has been further prioritized by Nepal Trade Integration Strategy (NTIS) 2010 and Agriculture Development Strategy ADS (KC and Upreti 2017;MoAD 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Marketing and Socioeconomics Aspects of Large Cardamom Production in Tehrathum, Nepal

Bhandari¹,

Bhandari²

2018

J. Nep. Agric. Res. Counc.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A survey was conducted in November 2015 in one of the pocket area of large cardamom production in Teharthum District, eastern Nepal with aim to investigate the status of cardamom enterprises. The parameters used were cardamom production area, type of manure used, drying facilities, technical skills of farmers, market channels and variable cost etc. We purposively selected 30 cardamom producers and stakeholders for interview pre-designed questionnaires. The result showed that average area, production and productivity of large cardamom per household were 0.86 ha, 200 kg and 232 kg.ha -1 , respectively, with the average farming experience of 22 years. It was revealed that 13% farmers used farmyard organic manure, the use of 1.5 kg/plant farmyard manure might produce 28.5% higher yield cardamom compared to without using any manure or fertilizers. It was also revealed among the responded only 7% had received improved drying machine from District Agriculture Development Office (DADO) at50% subsidy, while only 23% of farmers received training and technical services from DADO. The study showed that per hectare average total cost of large cardamom production, selling price and gross revenue were NRs. 2,36,705 ($2255), NRs. 5,50,305 ($5240) and NRs. 3,13,600 ($2985), respectively, with benefit/cost (B/C) ratio of 2 after the completion of gestation period of 4 years. Our survey showed that predominant marketing approach was by direct sell to the traders located at district headquarter. The productivity of large cardamom was influenced by various factors, such as nearly 75.2% of the variation in productivity was explained by the number of active family members, farming period, area, intercultural operations, variable cost and depreciated fixed cost.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Marketing and Socioeconomics Aspects of Large Cardamom Production in Tehrathum, Nepal

Bhandari¹,

Bhandari²

2018

J. Nep. Agric. Res. Counc.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…While Nepal and Bhutan produce large cardamom only (Sharma et al 2016), India produces both green and large cardamom (Bhutia et al 2017). As mentioned earlier, Nepal ranked first in the global production of large cardamom (Shrestha 2018), and fifth when large and other cardamoms are combined (ITC 2017a).…”

Section: Market Dynamics Of Large Cardamommentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Nordic countries, cardamom powder is used for baking. In addition, cardamom seeds are chewed as a mouth refresher (George and Cherian 2017;MoICS 2019b;Sharma et al 2016;USAID 2011). In China and in Southeast Asian countries, white cardamom is also used for medicinal purposes (Timsina and Paudel 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The livelihoods of around one-hundred-thousand small-scale farming households in the Eastern Himalayan region depend on large cardamom production (Bhattarai et al 2013;Joshi and Piya 2019;ITC 2017a). Farming this crop generates over 29% of total household income (on average about USD 900 per household per year) for more than 16,000 households in Sikkim, India (Sharma et al 2016). In Nepal, more than 67,000 households participate in large cardamom farming (ITC 2017a), earning around USD 650 per household per year.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Why Nepal’s main agricultural export product, large cardamom, does not reach the world market

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

While subsistence agriculture dominates in Nepal, certain high-value crops have shown great promise as export crops in recent years. Large cardamom is one such high-value crop, constituting about 5% of total exports from the country. Although development of agricultural value chains has connected smallholder farmers from developing countries to world markets, export of Nepali large cardamom is confined to India only. This paper has examined the factors that constrain the distribution of Nepali large cardamom to world markets beyond India. Primary data was collected from Ilam and Jhapa districts in eastern Nepal. Interviews and consultations were conducted with 54 purposively selected research participants including farmers, intermediaries, traders, and stakeholders. Data analysis was based on Trieneken's agricultural value chain analysis framework for developing countries. Findings revealed that increased large cardamom distribution to world markets is constrained by Nepal's landlocked geography, limited access to Indian transport infrastructure, strict food safety regulations, high tariffs, and complexities in customs clearance procedures. Nepal's poor market infrastructure, characterised by a lack of accredited laboratories, platforms for auctions, and warehouse facilities, has further weakened the country's export capacity. Moreover, that the same trade code is used for all types of cardamom in world markets has put Nepali traders at a disadvantage as they lack specific information regarding prospective markets and trade volumes outside India. This paper, therefore, calls for a large cardamom market study together with capacity-strengthening measures for institutions, the facilitation of export constraints, and a review of the existing export strategy.

show abstract

“…The large cardamom monocultures are being driven by potential global markets and state efforts to connect with the markets (Table 1, Kumar 2016) through existing national government schemes. Sikkim contributes to 88% of India's large cardamom production and is the second largest exporter of the crop in the world after Nepal (Sharma et al 2016a). Monocultures and corresponding lack of diversity have serious ecological and economic implications (Table 4) which can create "gilded traps" (Steneck et al 2011).…”

Section: The Global Cloud Over the Remote Local Sesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The theory of cross-scale interactions: an illustration from remote villages in Sikkim, India

Gupta

Haider

Österblom

2019

Environ Dev Sustain

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Interdependence of social-ecological systems (SES) across the globe is rapidly increasing through increased connectivity, for example, through flow of information and trade. This case study of highly remote Himalayan villages in West Sikkim, India, explores how crossscale interactions can shape the development of a local SES. In-depth interviews across four different institutional scales-state, district, gram panchayat unit and ward, show a rapid shift from subsistence farming to commercial monocultures of large cardamom in the lowland villages of the region. This, alongside a failure to address diverse needs within the policy implementation context, has resulted in economic inequality between lowland and upland villages. The interaction between state policies for conservation, national agriculture and food subsidies, and the effects of globalization are reducing the diversity of foods for the communities, as they become dependent on external markets and government subsidies for income and food. The case study is an example of how imposing uniform institutions can threaten SES to become increasingly homogenized and vulnerable to shocks.

show abstract

Declining Large-Cardamom Production Systems in the Sikkim Himalayas: Climate Change Impacts, Agroeconomic Potential, and Revival Strategies

Abstract: BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

Cited by 44 publications

References 6 publications

Marketing and Socioeconomics Aspects of Large Cardamom Production in Tehrathum, Nepal

Marketing and Socioeconomics Aspects of Large Cardamom Production in Tehrathum, Nepal

Why Nepal’s main agricultural export product, large cardamom, does not reach the world market

The theory of cross-scale interactions: an illustration from remote villages in Sikkim, India

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About