According to District Agriculture Development Office (DADO), Khotang, black cardamom plantations in Banjhe Chyandada-5, 6, 8 and 9 were destroyed by the floods in Rupawa and rivers triggered by incessant rain on Saturday.
Shyam Prasad Rijal, senior agriculture development officer, said the floods destroyed black cardamom plantation in around 22 ropani. Similarly, paddy plantation in 15 ropani has also been washed away by the floods."Though the actual figure of the loss is yet to come, black cardamoms worth around Rs 250 million have been destroyed in Bajhe Chyandanda-8 and 9 alone due to floods in Rupawa River," said Rijal.
Suraj Rai, a local farmer, said he used to produce around 16 tons of black cardamoms annually. "But floods completely destroyed my plantation this year," he said, adding that cardamom plantation of around a dozen farmers have been destroyed.
Similarly, rain-swollen Saapsu River destroyed cardamom farms in Bajhe Chyaandandha-5 and 6. According to Tej Bahadur Khatri, a local farmer, black cardamoms worth Rs 7 million were destroyed by the flood in the two wards of the VDC.
Black cardamom is the major cash crop and an important source of livelihood of people in many hilly districts in eastern Nepal.
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