The Hindu Business Line : Plea to computerise cardamom auction centres

THE downtrend witnessed in cardamom prices is due to middlemen who operate between producers and wholesale dealers, the Cardamom Planters Development Association (CPDA) has alleged.

The production has not registered any increase as the prices are ruling between Rs 200 per kg and Rs 300 a kg in the domestic market. The prices have been ruling weak in the overseas markets during the past two years.

"There is a deliberate attempt to push down the domestic prices by the interference of middlemen," the association charged. Covering agents who act as middlemen procure cardamom from auction centres in Tamil Nadu and Kerala for the North Indian buyers and try to bring down the prices, said Mr Kuriachan Antony, President, and Mr P.C. Mathew, Secretary of the association.

Auctioning is a very effective and acceptable marketing system. As it is transparent, it makes transaction easy. But of late, this transparency has been lost due to the influence of the external forces, they alleged.

Of the 32,000 hectares in Udumbanchola, Peerimedu and Devicolem Taluks in Idukki district where cardamom has been planted, nearly 30,000 hectares have been let out on lease in the name of kuthakapattam (monopoly lease). But in the absence of pattayam (title deed) to the land, cardamom planters cannot avail themselves loans from financial institutions.

The associated has requested the authorities to take immediate steps to computerise the auction centres to avoid malpractices and make it transparent and exempt the growers from paying development fund and grading charge. The cardamom development fund already collected should be utilised for useful purposes. It has also demanded pattayam for all the lands below five hectares owned by cardamom growers.