Cardamon farmers looking at bumper crop of over 13,000 tonne

Favourable weather in the cardamom producing regions of Kerala and Tamil Nadu could see the cardamom production for 2008-09 cross 13,000 tonne, farmers said. Atypical summer rains in March have worked positively and with the prediction of a normal monsoon, farmers are looking at higher production.

“Plantations are looking good and with incessant monsoon rains production could be higher by 50% in the Idukki region,” KK Devassia of Cardamom Growers Association told FE. Devassia puts the production in Idukki alone above 8,000 tonne for the new crop.

“The major producing regions of Idukki have received good showers this season in contrast to a drought in the previous season,” PA John of the district agricultural office in Idukki told FE. Moreover, the prevailing high prices have helped farmers in taking good care of the plantations, helping in increased production, he added. Cardamom needs low temperature, high humidity, and incessant drizzles, Devassia said. Heavy rains could damage the crop, while intermittent rains that keep the atmosphere humid augur well, he added.

A majority of the cropping area in the Munnar-Nedukandam region are also looking good, says SVC Subramaniam of the Cardamom Planters

Association, Bodinaykkannur. Subramanian estimates the new crop to be higher by 50% and puts the production above 12,000 tonne.

The 2007-08 crop is estimated at 6,000-7,000 tonne and lower by 40% over the previous year due to erratic weather. Major production centres in Idukki district like Udumbanchola, Rajakkad, Santapara, and Vandanmedu were severely affected due to the prolonged dry spell in 2007 and production declined significantly. “Except for a small percentage of planters who have irrigation facilities, most of the planters reported plant destruction in the severe drought that lasted almost five months,” sources said. Drop in production helped the cardamom growers to get a better price for the crop in the past one year. Auction prices in the trading centres of Kerala and Tamil Nadu even crossed the Rs 650 level for a kilogram.