The unseasonal rains in March have come as a boon for cardamom farmers in Kerala, with many of them planning to harvest the new crop (2008-09) by June instead of the usual time in August, traders said. ?With unusual summer rains in March, the crop setting began earlier and farmers are hoping for a bountiful season,? K K Devassia of Cardamom Growers Association told FE.
Auction centres in Kerala and Tamil Nadu have also advanced their annual opening by a month to accommodate the flow. Auction centres usually close their activities with the arrival of monsoon rains and resume auctions by July-end or beginning of August.
Kumily-based Cardamom Processing and Marketing Co-operative (CPMC) will now commence the new season on July 2, while the Cardamom Planters Association auction centre at odinayakanur in Tamil Nadu will start the proceeding on July 14, sources said. According to Devassia, some small auction centres are continuing auctions with fresh cardamom trickling in from some regions.
?So far, the weather has been favourable for the crop and hopefully the production should be good this year,? he added. ?The soil and the environment have enough moisture for the crop and the decrease in monsoon rains should not be a problem,? he said. Monsoon rains for the season has been lower by almost 40% in Kerala. Cardamom needs low temperature, high humidity and incessant drizzles, Devassia said.