Harnessing the comparative advantages of large black cardamom

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A niche cardamom product

Large black cardamom (Amomum subulatum) is an important cash crop for the economies of all three countries in the Kangchenjunga Landscape – Bhutan, India, and Nepal. Cardamom cultivation is very suited to the landscape’s conditions, yet the three countries struggle to compete in a global market increasingly dominated by other cardamom species. Large black cardamom is facing increased competition from white (Amomum krervanh) and green cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) produced in India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Ethiopia, and Guatemala. It is also facing competition from large black and red cardamom species (Amomum costatumand A. tsao-ko) grown in China and Vietnam.
With such demand and competitiveness in the cardamom market, Bhutan, India, and Nepal are uniquely positioned to capitalize on large black cardamom, a species that originated in the landscape. Large black cardamom can be marketed as a niche Himalayan product through a geographical indication (GI) certificate, which can help distinguish large black cardamom from other cardamom species and establish a brand. The three countries can also collectively inform customers about product attributes by setting up common regional standards and creating a distinct product identity. (Currently, with the common harmonized systematic code for all varieties of cardamom, it is difficult to trace the flow of large black cardamom in the global market.)

About the webinar

Against this backdrop, ICIMOD through its Kangchenjunga Landscape Conservation and Development Initiative (KLCDI) organized a regional workshop in Taplejung, Nepal, to explore opportunities for transboundary collaboration on large black cardamom value chain. Building on the recommendations of the regional workshop, ICIMOD together with its partners is organizing this webinar to discuss the possibility of creating a GI certificate and developing common regional standards for large black cardamom. The webinar will serve as a platform to bring relevant stakeholders on board with the approach and to strengthen the network among stakeholders of the three landscape countries.

Objectives

The main objective of the webinar is to identify action points and modalities to promote large black cardamom as a unique product from the Kangchenjunga Landscape in the international market. The specific objectives include the following:

• Develop a common understanding on issues in large black cardamom value chains
• Discuss possible opportunities for creating regional quality standards and GI for large black cardamom
• Identify a way forward and a step-wise process for better positioning large black cardamom as unique product

Target audience

• Representatives from government departments/ministries (agriculture, trade, and industry)
• Representatives from the private sector (cardamom entrepreneurs, exporters)
• Representatives from cooperatives, spice boards, and development organizations
• ICIMOD and its KLCDI partners

Moderator

Tashi Dorji, Programme Coordinator, KLCDI, ICIMOD

Resources

• Presentation by Surendra Joshi 
• Presentation by Indu Bikram Joshi 

Agenda

09:45–11:45 Indian Standard Time; 10:00–12:00 Nepal Standard Time; 10:15–12:15 Bhutan Time