The Hindu Business Line : Cardamom rules steady

At the Kumily auction on Wednesday, exporters bought 10 tonnes of cardamom. Arrivals stood at 64 tonnes and the entire quantity was sold out. Prices were up by Rs 5-8 a kg. 8 mm bold was sold at Rs 387 a kg, while 7 mm at Rs 210-230 a kg. Bulk was sold at Rs 200-210, while sick variety fetched Rs 165-175 a kg.

As trading activities have resumed in North India after the severe cold conditions, buyers from the upcountry were active, Mr P.C. Punnoose, General Manager, Cardamom Processing and Marketing Company (CPMC), told Business Line. Crop arrivals at all the auctions are said to be good during the week.

Total arrivals during the current season up to February 1, stood at the highest-ever volume of 6,350 tonnes compared with 3,489 tonnes in the same period last season. The sales in 2005-06 season through auctions stood at 5,939 tonnes against 3,239 tonnes in 2004-05. The weighted average price was Rs 222.21 for the current season compared with Rs 305.03 a kg in the previous season.

Prices of graded varieties as on February 1 were AGEB Rs 300-310 a kg; AGB Rs 215-220; AGS Rs 195-200; and AGS 1 Rs 185-195 a kg.

At Bodinayakannur, on Saturday, current bulk was sold at Rs 180-Rs 210 a kg while stock bulk (superior size) at Rs 220-250 a kg.

Around 25 per cent of the crop is left now and harvesting of it would continue till April 2006. Like last year if the growing areas in the State received summer rains for one or two days every month then there are chances that the harvesting might continue throughout the year.

However, the prevailing low prices have affected the income of the growers, especially the small farmers. This phenomenon has reflected on the commercial activities in the cardamom belt, trading sources said.