From Fields to Futures: Examining the Socioeconomic Shifts from Cardamom Cultivation in Eastern Nepal

Abstract

Large-scale cardamom cultivation in Eastern Nepal is primarily concentrated in six districts, namely Dhankuta, Taplejung, Panchthar, Ilam, Terhathum and Sankhuwasabha, contributing over 80% of the national production and engaging approximately 60,000–70,000 families. This study focuses on Ward No. 2 of Mahalaxmi Municipality in Dhankuta District and spans a five-year period from 2019 to February 18, 2024. Through census-based data collection from 27 households using interviews and observations, the research examines the impact of cardamom production on local livelihoods. The analysis incorporates insights from Marx's Mode of Production, along with perspectives from Jagannath Adhikari, Mark Liechty, and Ian Carlos Fitzpatrick. The findings reveal that earnings from cardamom cultivation have not only elevated living standards but also encouraged self-sufficiency and reduced reliance on foreign employment through borrowing, highlighting changing economic opportunities, self-esteem, and job prospects within the community.