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Large Cardamom, (Amomum subulatum Roxb.) belongs to the family Zingiberaceae of natural order Scitaminae. The freshly harvested fruit capsules are deep red in colour and are c. 2.3 cm in length and 1.5 cm in diameter. It has a pleasant aromatic odour resulting from a low content (maximum c. 4.5 – 5 %) of the volatile oil 1,8-cineole and is mainly used as a flavouring and spice. It is a crosspollinated monocotyledonous, perennial herbaceous plant. It prefers shade and may be grown on a range of altitudes from 600 2300 masl. Cultivation of large cardamom, Amomum subulatum is confined to the sub Himalayan range of Nepal, northern India (Sikkim and West Bengal) and Bhutan. Approximately 12.5 thousand metric tons of large cardamom is produced annually in India, Nepal and Bhutan. The large cardamom covers 23500 ha, 11562 ha and 200 ha with the production of 5562 mt., 6188 mt. and 1000 mt. in India, Nepal and Bhutan respectively. Nepal is the world's largest producer of large cardamom supplying about 50 % of the world’s market followed by India and Bhutan. The contribution of large cardamom in Nepal is 0.76 % of the total export and 0.07 % of GDP. In the recent year, plantation has been declining with resulting production losses. Rhizome rot, Foorkey and Chhirkey (viral diseases), leaf eating caterpillar (Eupterote molifera), stem borer (Glyphipterix sp.) and aphid (Pentalonia nigronervosa) are reported as the main yield limiting factors for the cultivation of large cardamom in Nepal. Kala (Palm civets), a vertebrate animal pest was reported as a threat to mature cardamom capsules in the cardamom growing area. Similarly, other animal pests such as monkeys and rats were reported as a nuisance to cardamom plantations. In addition, natural occurrences such as frost and drought were also reported to yield limiting factors in large cardamom plantations in Nepal.
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