• Investment World
• eWorld
• Brand Line
• Mentor
• Life
• Canvas
• Praxis
• Urban Pulse
• Brand Quest
• The New Manager

Stocks

• Quotes
• SE Diary
• Scoreboard
• Open-End Mutual Fund

Cross Currency

• Rates
  
  

Shipping

• Ports
  
  

Archives

• Yesterday
• Datewise
• Resources
• In Focus
• In Depth

Group Sites

• The Hindu
• The Hindu ePaper
• Business Line
• Business Line ePaper
• Sportstar
• Frontline
• The Hindu eBooks
• The Hindu Images

G.K. Nair

Output to fall further by 5-10%

Advertisement

Kochi Feb. 22 Drought conditions prevailing in the country's main cardamom growing area in Kerala's Idukki district could result in a further decline of 5-10 per cent in the total output this season.

The crop during the current season was projected to be less by 20-30 per cent earlier. About 60 per cent of the total area under the crop is badly affected by the dry spell, which has dried up the plants. Santhanpara, Poopara, Rajakkad, Rajakumari areas are the worst hit as there is no irrigation facilities available there, Mr T. Ashok Kumar, President, Kerala Cardamom Growers Union, told Business Line on Thursday.

Already picking of capsules has slowed down and it is reflected in the drop in arrivals at the auctions during the week. Therefore, there won't be late crop and the picking might be over by March 15, he said.

Meanwhile, in Vandanmedu and Chakkupallam areas, most of the plantations have irrigation facilities, the water resources would dry up by March first week and if the drought conditions continued to prevail, the plants in these areas would also be damaged.

In that case, the next crop would not only be late but will be lower, he predicted.

Kerala produced an estimated 9,765 tonnes of cardamom out of the total national output of 12,540 tonnes in 2005-06. During the current season, the projection was that it would be less by 30-40 per cent. The production in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu was 1,775 tonnes and 1,000 tonnes respectively in 2005-06.

Out of the total yielding area of 55,221 hectares, 30,991 ha was in Kerala in 2003-04 with an average yield of 286 kg/ha. Though Karnataka has 20,510 ha yielding area the production there used to be much less due to a very low productivity of 85 kg/ha. Tamil Nadu has 3,720 ha with an average yield of 259 kg/ha.

Prices rule steady

The prices continued to rule steady with marginal fluctuations at the auctions held in Kerala and Tamil Nadu during the week. The weighted average price increased by about Rs 80 a kg to Rs 300.75 a kg as on February 21 from Rs 220.99 a kg on the same date last season.

At the Kumily auction conducted by the Cardamom Processing and Marketing Company (CPMC), the prices improved by Rs 15 a kg. Buyers were active and the entire quantity of 53 tonnes was sold out. The 8 mm bold fetched Rs 425-450 a kg, while 7.5 mm Rs 400-425 and 7 mm Rs 375-400 a kg. Current bulk was sold at Rs 350-360 a kg. The highest price of Rs 472 was fetched by 8 mm bold good colour.

However, the exporters seem to have slowed down as they bought only six tonnes of the produce. It appears that they have covered their first export commitments, Mr P.C. Punnoose, General Manager, CPMC, said.

According to him, given the tight supply position there would be good prospects for the commodity in the coming days.

Because of the prevailing dry spell the arrivals have shrunk, he said. As against 64 tonnes on February 14 the arrivals on February 21 were only 53 tonnes, he said.

The average prices of the graded varieties as on February 17 were AGEB Rs 415-425, AGB Rs 330-340, AGS Rs 310-320 and AGS 1 Rs 275-285 a kg. The open market prices at Bodinayakannur on Thursday were AGEB Rs 390-400, AGB Rs 320-330, AGS Rs 300-310 and AGS 1 Rs 260-280. The current bulk was fetching Rs 280-340 a kg.

More Stories on : Spices & Condiments | Climate & Weather | Kerala

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Chidambaram hints at fresh steps on farm futures trading

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu Business Line