As a result, the average price of cardamom, which was expected to dip during the last two weeks, has held steady. For the week under review, prices hovered around Rs 480 a kg. So far during this season, 442 tonnes of cardamom has been sold through the auction centres at an average price of Rs 484.45 per kg, sources added. The new season cardamom auctions began on August 18.

Farmers in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are happy that there is at least some semblance of balance in the market. Growers had been apprehensive in the beginning of the new season. Sitting on a bumper crop, theyexpected the prices to drop sharply with heavy arrivals. To their dismay, this new season crops began to arrive in the market three weeks earlier than usual.

But they can take heart watching the price front. Compared to the last season when cardamom harvest was much smaller, this season is going off smoothly. This year's sale of more than 400 tonnes so far is a record of sorts for the last three years. During the same period last season, only 149 tonnes of cardamom was sold at an average price of Rs 415.31 per kg. This season has seen both the quantity and the price going up.

Sources at the auction centres said that about 40 tonnes of cardamom has so far been exported. Since the exporters have short-term commitments, they are not too keen to wait and watch for the price trends. ``They are buying what is available now in the market,'' trade sources said.

At the auctions held on September 21 by the Cardamom Processing and Marketing Corporation at Kumali, 25 tonnes of cardamom was sold at an average priceof Rs 488.37 per kg. On 19th, auctions were held by Cardamom Marketing Corporation at Kambam at which 15 tonnes were sold at an average price of Rs 491.43 per kg. On 19th, the prices were better at Rs 497.43 per kg on an average at the auctions held in Vandanmedu by the Cardamom Marketing Corporation. A total of 25 tonnes were sold at this auction, sources said.