The output of large cardamom in the Northeastern states is set to increase with good and untimely winter rains during January and February. Sources at the regional office of the Spices Board in Sikkim told FE that the region also received good rains during June and July which aided in good crop-setting. India is the largest producer of large cardamom in the world. The output of large cardamom had dropped to less than 2,500 tonne per annum after the severe drought of 2003-04. The output until then varied between 4,000-4,500 tonne per annum.Sources put the preliminary estimate for the crop above 2,750-3,000 tonne for 2008-09.
Large Cardamom is cultivated mainly in the sub-Himalayan region of Northeastern India, with the state of Sikkim contributing the largest share. The cultivation is mostly organic and restricted to a single picking starting from August. Grown mainly in the wild and not attended regularly, the crop is seen to be very weather-sensitive. Increasing blight attack at plantations is another concern with treatment limited to bio-control methods, sources said. Spices Board sources said that the yielding area has dwindled in the state of Sikkim from 2,500 hectare to less than 1,900 hectare. The Spices Board is also planning to re-plant more than 700 hectare in Sikkim to improve the output with demand for the commodity on the increase. Large cardamom is exported to Pakistan and neighbouring nations.
