December 11: Cardamom price has fallen of late. A maund of cardamom sells at Rs 24,000 at Jhapa’s Birtamod. Per maund of cardamom would fetch Rs 26,000 just a week ago in the same market.

Cardamom entrepreneurs say that low demand for the cardamom has driven the price down this year. “Of late, production of the cardamom has gone up where as demand has shrunk which has led the price to drop”, said cardamom entrepreneur Narendra Tiwari. He has collected around 400 maunds of cardamom this year. Out of them, Tiwari has purchased half of them at Rs 29,000 per maund from farmers. “I have stored most of the cardamom in the godown due to price fall”, Tiwari added.

Meanwhile, farmers are also waiting for right price to sell their produce. Though they have handed over their product to traders, peasants have not reduced the price. “We are confused as the price is fluctuating”, said farmer Raj Kumar Bhattarai.

Price letup has also put big traders in trouble as they have to bank on Indian market. “The cardamom sold up to Rs 48,000 per maund last year. Since then, the price has been dipping”, cardamom farmers and traders say.