Mikwakhola Rural Municipality to Award Cardamom in Football Tournament

A football tournament taking place in Taplejung will award cardamom to the winning and runner-up teams instead of traditional cash prizes. Mikwakhola Rural Municipality is organising the sporting contest to coincide with the regional tourism and cultural festival. According to the organisers, substituting financial prize money with agricultural produce aims to highlight local farming output and boost market promotion for cardamom crops. The tournament is scheduled to run from 2 Mangsir to 6 Mangsir. Alongside host squads, participation is anticipated from neighbouring districts such as Panchthar. Organisers explained that linking sports with agricultural promotion will raise public awareness regarding local crop cultivation. Similar prize structures were previously utilised in the past year's competition, where cardamom equal to the prize valuation was distributed. By incorporating agricultural products directly into event prizes, officials intend to assist farmers with market reach and wider promotion. The initiative forms part of broader efforts to integrate local trade, sport, and regional tourism, while aiming to attract outside visitors to the municipality during the multi-day event.