Farmer's Grievance
Madhuka Rai Jimmy, 49
is a farmer based in Pangma, Sankhuwasabha. She lives with her husband Milan
Kumar Jimmy Rai, 45 and their children and runs small farmland where she grows
alaichi (black cardamom). Considered black gold by the locals, the crop is
widely cultivated in the area and has helped couples like Rai Jimmy make a
decent living.
The price of alaichi
increased considerably recently, but farmers like Madhuka have not seen a
profit. She sells at the time of harvest when the prices are low and stable.
“If we could store and sell later, we would make a good margin of profit, but
we don’t have the savings or the facility to do that, we live on what we make
now,” says Madhuka. Additionally, she argues that alaichi prices are always
fluctuating, and she says there’s no guarantee that the prices would go up
later. “But that is a risk we just cannot take,” says Madhuka. It is unclear
why the alaichi prices have increased recently, but suspects it may have
something to do with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Elaichi farming is hard work. The plant needs a constant supply of water. “That would not have been a problem because we have plenty of water where we live, but we don’t have the proper equipment to get constant flow,” says Madhuka. She argues that this is where the local government could have helped if they wanted to support small farmers like her.
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