Large Cardamom

Abstract

India is the largest producer of large cardamom (Amomum subulatum Roxburgh), with an annual production of 4000 MT, followed by Nepal (2500 MT) and Bhutan (1000 MT) (Berrig et al., 1993). More than 85% of the production within India is from Sikkim. An estimated 4000 t of large cardamom, valued at about Rs. 1.60 billion, is produced annually in Sikkim alone, which constitutes nearly 80% of total production from India. It is also called greater Indian or Nepal cardamom, which is a native of the Eastern Himalayan region. Large cardamom is the most important perennial cash crop of the region and is widely cultivated with Himalayan alder (Alnus nepalensis) as a shade tree (Sharma et al., 2002).