The Hindu Business Line : Dry spell may affect cardamom production

DROUGHT conditions prevailing in the cardamom-growing areas have resulted in loss of an estimated 25 per cent of the crop in Kerala's Idukki district, which produces around 75 per cent of the cardamom in the country.

Destruction of the plants in a stretch from Nedumkandam to Poopara could lead to a production loss. Besides, a decline in productivity in the drought-affected plantations in other areas would lead to an overall production loss of 40 per cent during the next season, planters in Idukki told Business Line.

The region has received two spells of summer showers this week and it would help rejuvenate the plants. But, there should have to be some more follow-up showers in a fortnight failing which the fresh flushing would be affected, they added.

Harvesting during the current season is over. Arrivals have dropped substantially. In the absence of adequate arrivals, auctioneers might suspend auctions in the coming weeks, market sources said. However, Spices Board insists on conducting the auctions throughout the year.

At the major auction centre of Cardamom Processing and Marketing Company (CPMC) at Kumily in Kerala, arrivals on Wednesday stood at 17 tonnes comprising mainly the medium and sick varieties.

"The entire lot was sold out and the average price was Rs 350 per kg. Short supply has pushed the prices up by Rs 10 to 15 a kg," said Mr P.C. Punnose, General Manger, CPMC. According to him, during the current season, the prices remained below remunerative levels. The average price during the current season stood at Rs 364.73 a kg as against over Rs 584.85 last season. To be remunerative it should remain at least at Rs 400 a kg, he pointed out.

Prices of graded varieties were AGEB Rs 430-440, AGB Rs 320-330, AGS Rs 305-315 and AGS 1 Rs 285-295 a kg.

Total sales during the current season stood at 4,225 tonnes as against 3,157 tonnes in the corresponding period last season, an increase of 1,068 tonnes. Total arrivals were 4,558 tonnes and 3,569 tonnes respectively. The weighted average price in the current season was Rs 364.73 a kg as against Rs 584.85 a kg last season.

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