Introduction

Grown in eastern hills, cardamom is an important non-perishable cash crop, with an annual production of around 8,000 metric tons. About 80% of this is exported to India, being the largest export commodity of Nepal. Given this, there are opportunities for investments to grow the crop on the hill areas in 14 target districts, as there are suitable agroclimatic conditions for its production, there is high potential market demand for pharmaceutical uses, as well as export potential. Investments are focused on value addition through processing into oil, oleoresin, powder, and drying and storage facilities.

The required investment is of 22.9 million USD, with an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 25.54%, benefiting directly 18,000 households, while creating employment for more than one million producers, mostly women.