The upsurge in cardamom prices so far this year does not seem to have cheered the growers as it is not benefiting them financially because of the sharp fall in output. The productivity per hectare is going to be around 40 per cent and hence the revenue would be correspondingly far below the investment landing us in heavy loss, some of the growers in Idukki, where around 80 per cent of the crop is cultivated in the country, told BusinessLine . The average yield per hectare in Kerala in 2015-16, when the total output was highest ever, stood at 491 kg as against 403 kg and 350 kg in 2014-15 and 2013-14 respectively. Aggravating the situation further is the demonetisation of high-value notes. Last week, only eight auctions were held and the total arrivals stood at 190 tonnes and and of this 178 tonnes were traded. Exporters were reported to have bought an estimated 60-70 tonnes, said PC Punnoose, General Manager, CPMC. The individual auction average was vacillating between ₹1,146 and ₹1,264 a kg. Prices in ₹/kg : 8mm bold good colour 1,500-1,600 ; 7-8 mm 1,350-1,400; 6-7 mm 1,250-1,300 and below 6 mm: 1,100-1,200.

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