Cardamom production during 2007-08 is likely to be lower by 30% compared to last year, Spices Board chairman VJ Kurian said. He was speaking to reporters here at the 114th annual conference of UPASI.
This is the first official confirmation from the state-run board on the production figures, even though farmers and traders are already claiming a fall in production. Erratic climate in the form of drought during March -April period and excessive rains in July is the cause for the shortfall, board officials say. However, they are hopeful that a late harvest of new blossoms could make-up for the shortfall to a certain extent. Farmers have reported shortage from the major production centres of Idukki in Kerala and Coorg in Karnataka. Indian production for 2006-07 is estimated at 11,500 tonne.
?The lower arrivals also signal a shortfall in crop. Arrivals have drooped by 40-50 % in major auction centres,? Kurian said. Spices Board has ambitious targets for spices exports from the nation.” We hope to export spices worth $10 billion by 2017.The exports are likely to touch $1 billion by 2008-09,” Kurian said. India exported spices valued at $793 million during 2006-07.
India has 47% share in total world spices trade, but the nation exports only 9% of its production after consuming the rest, Kurian added.