Strengthening the value chain of large cardamom in Nepal

Rome – A high-level delegation from the Government of Nepal, headed by the Honourable RamNath Adhikari, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, met with the secretariat of the One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) Initiative in Plant Production and Protection Division (NSP) on 18 October 2024 at FAO headquarters in Rome to strategize on strengthening the value chain of large cardamom in Nepal.

The Minister highlighted the importance of the OCOP initiative to promote the large cardamom globally and reaffirmed the government's interest in strengthening the entire product value chain by improving production, processing, and marketing of black cardamom. 

H.E. RamNath Adhikari, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, government of Nepal, highlights the potential of large cardamom. ©FAO/MH Kawsar Rudro

Nepal is one of 87 countries participating in the OCOP Initiative, which focuses on strengthening value chains for 54 Special Agricultural Products (SAPs) globally. Yurdi Yasmi, Deputy Executive Secretary of the OCOP Secretariat and Special Coordinator of the FAO Plant Production and Protection Division, explained the initiative's broader goals. “When people think of large cardamom, we want them to associate it with Nepal,” he stated, underscoring OCOP's role in national branding for selected products.

Nepal selected large cardamom as its SAP in 2022, recognizing its economic potential and export value. With FAO's technical cooperation, significant progress has been made in supporting the value chain. Initiatives include establishing tissue culture laboratories and nurseries to produce disease-free saplings and promoting Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) through Farmer Field Schools. These efforts aim to boost productivity and ensure the long-term sustainability of large cardamom farming in Nepal.

The Hand-in-Hand Investment Plan for large cardamom has garnered attention from private investors and has been showcased at key international forums, such as the Republic of Korea and the Nepal Food Forum 2024. Additionally, FAO’s Digital Village Initiative (DVI) has been integrated into the sector, equipping farmers with digital literacy tools, IoT-based irrigation systems, and a chatbot service to enhance productivity and efficiency

The meeting discussion centred on setting priorities for the OCOP Initiative in Nepal, which included controlling plant pests and diseases, enhancing farmers’ livelihoods, and accessing new markets regionally and internationally. The conversation also delved in the ways FAO will support the country’s efforts, for example, by continuing the value chain analysis to better understand where improvements could be made. Product packaging was identified as a means of attracting consumers and building a memorable brand.

The Minister H.E. RamNath Adhikari shares large cardamom products with Yurdi Yasmi, Deputy Executive Secretary of OCOP. ©FAO/MH Kawsar Rudro

The meeting also discussed the implementation of the Geographical Indications Environment & Sustainability (GIES) methodology in collaboration with the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research of Chinese Academy of Sciences through the MoU with FAO to support the OCOP initiative, further enhancing the value chain’s sustainability and market potential.

Yasmi emphasized FAO's technical support through NSP and OCOP, stressing the importance of building synergies between FAO initiatives in Nepal, including Hand-in-Hand and the Digital Villages. A notion that was echoed by Shimizu, who affirmed FAO’s commitment to promoting sustainable agriculture in Nepal. 

The Nepalese delegation included senior government officials Raj Kumar Adhikari, Secretary of Office of the Prime Minister, Dal Prasad Pudasainy, Senior Agricultural Economist of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, and Ken Shimizu, the FAO country representative in Nepal.

Nepal is displaying its special agricultural product, large cardamom, along with other priority products, during the World Food Forum at FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy. ©FAO