The Hindu Business Line : Heavy rains damage cardamom plantations

Kochi, Sept. 24 Incessant heavy rains for about three weeks in the cardamom growing areas in Kerala’s Idukki district have led to widespread fungus disease in the plants which might result in further drop in the late crop.

Cardamom plantations are concentrated in Kattappana, Vandanmedu, Anavilasam, Nedumkandam, Udubanchola, Rajakumari and Rajakkadu areas and around 45,000 acres are under the crop.

As the recent spell was unexpected, majority of the farmers have not done the advance spraying of fungicides. As a result, there has been widespread rotting of stems and pinnacles, Mr T. Ashok Kumar, President, Kerala Cardamom Growers Union, told Business Line. In fact, the new emerging tillers had also decayed, he said.

Thin arrivals

He said already the current season output was estimated to be less by 30 per cent and the fungus disease would lead to a further decline in production by 10 per cent raising the total drop by 40 per cent.

The heavy rains accompanied by winds did not allow them to pluck capsules in the estates. This was evident from the thin arrivals at the auction centres during the past three weeks, Mr P.C. Punnoose, General Manager, Cardamom Processing and Marketing Company, said.

It is for the first time in many years that the area had received such a continuous heavy downpour in September, he said.

“He said there was a dip in arrivals by 21 tonnes at Sunday’s auction in Kumily conducted by Kerala Cardamom Processing and Marketing Company.

Buying support

Good buying support has pushed up the prices by Rs 20 a kg and the average price rose to Rs 430 a kg. 8mm bold capsules fetched Rs 550 a kg while 7mm to 8mm was sold at Rs 450 to Rs 500 a kg. Current bulk was fetching Rs 425 to Rs 440 a Kg.

According to Mr Punnose, the market witnessed more buying interest in view of the Ramzan and Divali festivals. However, exporters were absent, probably because of the high prices.

Related Stories:
Monsoon hits Kerala’s cardamom production
Cardamom plants hit by rains, gale

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