Cardamom more profitable than Kiwi

KATHMANDU: “Now I am are going to uproot these kiwi plants and cultivate cardamom instead,” said farmer Binod Khatri, who had planted kiwi on what used to be his maize field.

He explained that a plot of land accommodating 7 to 10 kiwi plants could yield about one man of cardamom, making it ten times more profitable than kiwi cultivation.

Khatri currently has around 20 kiwi plants on his land, which was initially used for maize farming. Comparing kiwi with cardamom, he said, “If I had planted cardamom here instead of kiwi, I would have harvested over two man of cardamom. At current market prices, that would have been worth more than Rs 200,000.”

He lamented that he has earned less than Rs 5,000 from his 20 kiwi plants. Binod Khatri, a farmer from Sandakpur Rural Municipality in Ilam, is not alone in his frustration.

Many farmers in the region who have opted for kiwi farming are now reconsidering their choice, recognizing that no other crop matches the profitability of cardamom.

Currently, high-quality kiwi sells for Rs 100 to 150 per kilogram, while cardamom commands a price of Rs 2,800 or more per kilogram. In fact, the market price for cardamom has reached up to Rs 115,000 per man.

Farmers report that kiwi, which once fetched over Rs 600 per kilogram, is now difficult to sell, and when sold, it fetches disappointingly low prices. They complain that the high production costs of kiwi farming do not yield sufficient returns. Farmer Thakur Khatri noted that marketing is a significant issue, as farmers must handle sales themselves, and kiwi often sells at a price comparable to potatoes.

Although early adopters of kiwi farming earned good profits from saplings and seeds, the decline in market value has left many farmers disillusioned. “Our income has not met expectations,” said farmer Rudra Khatri.

Kiwi, often referred to as the “king of fruits,” is rich in vitamins and flavor. Despite its nutritional benefits, farmers accuse the government and concerned authorities of neglecting its market development.

Kiwi is cultivated in districts like Ilam, Kavre, Panchthar, and Sankhuwasabha. Recently, western regions have also started receiving saplings from Ilam. The cultivation and consumption of kiwi are expanding, but challenges remain.

Kiwi plants require careful cultivation, with male and female plants planted together for pollination. Insects like bees and bumblebees facilitate pollination by transferring pollen while feeding on nectar. Farmers propagate kiwi through cuttings and shoots, and the plants begin to bear fruit in the fourth year.

Kiwi thrives in hilly terrain at altitudes ranging from 1,200 to 2,400 meters above sea level.

According to Jivan Thada Magar, an Information Officer and Agricultural Extension Officer at the Agriculture Knowledge Center in Ilam, kiwi farming covers about 780 hectares in the district. Last year, Ilam produced 2,852 metric tons of kiwi.

Farmers believe that processing kiwi into juice, jam, or pickles could restore its market value. However, until such initiatives are taken, many farmers are likely to replace their kiwi plants with more profitable cardamom.