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G.K. Nair

Kochi , June 23

HARVESTING of cardamom of the next season is expected to begin in late June. As a result, auctioneers, who had suspended auctions due to thin arrivals, would be back in the market in the second week of July.

In the past, auctioneers used to resume auctions from mid-August as harvesting normally commenced from mid-July. This year, there is going to be an early crop because of the favourable weather conditions prevailing in recent months.

But in the plantations owned by growers from Tamil Nadu, harvesting would begin only after `Aadi Perukku' festival, Theni and Cumbum-based growers told Business Line. There would be good arrivals at the auctions in the beginning of August, they said.

However, major planters apprehend that the next crop could be affected by the ongoing plantation labour strike demanding revision of wages, among other things.

Direct sales were not taking place in the cardamom market in Bodinayakannur and Kumily due to poor availability, market sources said. The Spices Board planned to hold a meeting of auctioneers, traders, growers and buyers at Bodinayakannur in the first week of July to discuss production and market trends, they said.

The cardamom-growing areas in Kerala and Karnataka had been receiving good monsoon rains during the past few days. If such conditions prevailed, with intermittent sunshine, the crop would be good, planters said.

Prices during the last season have been at lower levels compared to the previous year, they said. The overall weighted average price, as on June 23 was Rs 303.19 a kg as against Rs 361.13 on this day last year.

The total arrivals at the auction centres during the season, as on Thursday, were 5,114 tonnes, of which 4,769 tonnes were sold. As against this, arrivals as on June 23, 2004, stood at 5,774 tonnes with sales at 5,361 tonnes.

Prices of graded varieties were AGEB Rs 400-Rs 410, AGB Rs 285-Rs 295, AGS Rs 280-Rs 290 and AGS 1 Rs 270-Rs 275 a kg.

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