The Trade and Export Promotion Centre has begun work to register a trademark ‘Everest Big Cardamom’ in India, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates to identify quality Nepali cardamom.

A month ago, the Department of Industry allocated the trademark to promote the high-value cash crop in the international market.

These countries are the major markets for Nepal’s large

cardamom. The collective trademark is a quality assurance of

the product.

Bimal Nepal, deputy executive director of the centre, said they had started the registration process in coordination with the Large Cardamom Entrepreneurs Association of Nepal. According to him, the centre will pay 70 percent of the costs of registering the trademark.

Nepal produces three types of large cardamom. Nearly 90 percent of the large cardamom grown in Nepal is exported to India. From India, the spice is re-exported to Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Gulf countries and other overseas destinations.

The high-value cash crop is produced mainly in the eastern hill region. The spice is one of the high value cash crops and export commodities and is grown only in Sikkim and Darjeeling in India, Bhutan and Nepal. Large cardamom was introduced into Ilam from Sikkim in 1865.

According to a study report published by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development last February, Nepal is the largest producer of large cardamom, accounting for 68 percent of the international market. It is followed by India (22 percent) and Bhutan (9 percent).

Ilam, Panchthar, Taplejung, Sankhuwasabha, Terhathum, Bhojpur and Dhankuta districts are the major large cardamom producing areas in Nepal. Cultivation of the spice has now spread to more than 38 districts. Taplejung is the top producer with an annual output of 2,400 tonnes worth Rs6 billion.

Large cardamom is one of the major contributors to Nepal’s foreign exchange earnings. According to government statistics, Nepal exported large cardamom valued at Rs4.27 billion in the first 11 months of the last fiscal year. In the previous fiscal year 2014-15, exports totalled Rs3.83 billion.

Besides large cardamom, Nepal’s tea, coffee, leather footwear and pashmina have already acquired collective trademarks. While Chyangra Pashmina has been registered in 42 countries, the trademark of coffee has been registered in nine countries.

Likewise, Nepali woolen carpet is in the process of acquiring a collective trademark. The trademarks are expected to promote Nepali brands in the international market.