The Hindu Business Line : Cardamom season begins on a positive note

Cardamom auctions of the new crop started on a promising note as the prices showed an upward trend. Reports of a decline in production during the current season is said to be the reason for the improvement in prices.

At the auction held at Kumily by the Cardamom Processing and Marketing Company (CPMC) on Wednesday, the prices moved up by Rs 10 a kg. The arrivals stood at 40 tonnes and the entire quantity was sold out, Mr P.C. Punnoose, General Manager, CPMC told Business Line.

Inputs sale

While 8mm capsules fetched Rs 400 - Rs 420 a kg, 7.5 mm was sold at Rs 350 - Rs 370 and 7mm at Rs 330 a kg. Good current bulk having good colour fetched Rs 250 - Rs 260 while ordinary bulk at Rs 215 - Rs 225 kg.

According to him the market sentiment indicated of a positive trend in the coming days.

He said the low prices during the last season forced the growers to abstain from taking up scientific farm management practices for want of funds.

This was reflected in the sale of inputs in the Idukki district, which accounts for the maximum area under cardamom crop. "There had been a drop of 30-35 per cent in the sales of inputs, which used to be to the tune of Rs 30 crore a year," he said.

Thus, neglect of the plantations apart from the damages inflicted by winds and incessant rains in recent weeks is expected to result in a decline in production, he said.

At the auction at Nedumkandam on Monday the prices ruled steady.

The entire quantity of 26 tonnes arrived there was sold out. 7.8 mm new capsules fetched Rs 387 a kg, while 7mm was sold at Rs 300 a kg, Mr R.K. Parekh of the auctioning company Header Systems said.

Harvesting Season

As the official harvesting season of the crop is from August 1 to July 31, the total arrivals, according to Spices Board sources, as on July 18 were at 9,751 tonnes as against 5,241 tonnes in the previous season. The total sales during the current season stood at 9,108 tonnes compared to 4,893 tonnes. The average prices per kg of graded varieties were AGEB Rs 310 - Rs 320, AGB Rs 240 - Rs 250, AGS Rs 210 - Rs 225 and AGS 1 Rs 180 - Rs 195.

The prices in the local market in Bodinayakannur on Thursday were AGEB Rs 320 - Rs 330, AGB Rs 220 - Rs 230, AGS Rs 200 - Rs 210 and AGS 1 Rs 190 - Rs 200 a kg, while bulk was fetching Rs 270 - Rs 270 a kg.

The weather conditions at present in the growing areas were favourable, plantation sources said.