Abstract

Nepal Cardamom (Amomum subulatum Roxb.), locally regarded as the country's “Black Gold”, is one of Nepal's most valuable cash crops and a major source of rural income and export earnings in the eastern hill districts, including Bhojpur. In recent years, however, productivity has declined markedly because of increasing disease pressure, pest infestation, climatic variability, limited irrigation, and inadequate farmer knowledge of disease and pest management. This study was carried out in Bhojpur district from November 2025 to April 2026 to assess the status of major Nepal Cardamom diseases, document the disease management practices adopted by farmers, and evaluate their influence on production. A descriptive research design combining quantitative and qualitative approaches was used. Data were collected from 64 Nepal Cardamom growing households selected through convenience sampling across Bhojpur Municipality, Tyamke Maiyum Rural Municipality, Ram Prasad Rai Rural Municipality, and Shadananda Municipality, supplemented by key informant interviews and field observation. Rhizome rot was identified as the most prevalent and destructive disease, affecting approximately 70% of the surveyed plantations, followed by leaf blight (60%) and wilt (under 40%). Around 86% of the respondent households reported a decline in production over the preceding five years, and none reported an increase. Cultural practices, such as field sanitation, shade regulation and removal of infected material, were adopted almost universally, whereas only about one-fifth of farmers used chemical inputs and none practiced biological control. Where chemical treatment was applied, it markedly reduced the incidence of rhizome rot, leaf blight, wilt and damping-off compared with cultural practices alone, while cultural measures performed comparably well or better against chirke (mosaic) disease. The study concludes that inadequate access to disease-resistant planting material, weak extension support, and limited technical knowledge are the principal constraints to effective disease management in Bhojpur, and recommends strengthening farmer support systems and promoting Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPDM) to restore productivity and safeguard the long-term sustainability of Nepal cardamom cultivation in the district.

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