Champassak to export lucrative green cardamom
Champassak to export lucrative green cardamom
Farmers in Champassak province have begun planting 200ha of green cardamom in the Bolaven Plateau area of Pakxong district for export to India in what is believed to be a Southeast Asian first.
Once matured, cardamom pods will be exported through an Indian company based in Laos for up to 10 times as much as the traditionally-grown red cardamom can earn.
The Ministry of Agriculture an d Forestry's Sustainable Natura l Resource Management and Productivity Enhancement Project (SNRMPEP) Director, Mr Vinoth Vansy, sai d it would take about two years for the crops to be ready for expor t.
Green cardamom, from the same plant family as the Lao red cardamom, has been introduced to the southern province in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank and the International Fund for Agriculture Development.
The Global Resource Centre of India provided the link between SNRMPEP and a green cardamom producer in India and facilitated the import of saplings to Laos.
SNRMPEP distributed green cardamom saplings to farmers in the area who had previously grown red cardamom.
It is thought this is the first time green cardamom has been cultivated in a South East Asian country.
Cardamom plants mature about 20 to 22 months after planting and economic yields start in the third year and can continue for up to 10 years. One hectare can produce 500kg to 1,000kg of cardamom pods every year.
The returns from green cardamom are so high that in India the crop is sometimes referred to as ‘green gold'.
It is also recognised as an environmentally friendly crop as it can be grown under shade by clearing grass and bushes, protecting levels of forest cover while also generating high incomes.
Once established, the cultivation of green cardamom will change the livelihoods of farmers while protecting the environment and reduce slash and burn farming.
Provincial farmers have historically collected red cardamom that grows wild for use in domestic cooking. In some areas it has been grown for export to the Chinese and Korean markets.
Mr Vinoth said red cardamom is used for medicinal purposes but sells for just US$1 per kilogramme, making very small returns for farmers.
Green cardamom can collect as much as US$10 per kilogramme.
vientiane times
