Heavy rains accompanied by strong winds damage cardamom crop in Kerala

08-Aug-2024 02:51 PM

Idukki. Due to inclement weather with torrential rains and strong winds, there is a report of heavy damage to the green cardamom crop in Idukki district of Kerala, which is considered to be its largest producing area.

Producers say that due to the current weather conditions, the outbreak of fungal disease on the cardamom crop has increased, due to which the yield rate is expected to decrease in the current marketing season of 2024-25. Cardamom vines have fallen down due to strong winds.

According to a leading analyst, the possibility of decline in cardamom productivity has increased and it is difficult to estimate the production of the crop as its plucking has not started.

The condition of the crop has deteriorated in Santanpara - the main producing area of ​​Idukki district.

Earlier, due to severe drought for five months from January to May 2024, cardamom plantations suffered heavy losses and especially small and marginal producers suffered huge losses because they did not have any means of irrigation.

These producers with plantations of less than five acres contribute heavily to the total production of cardamom because their number is high.

Due to the drought crisis, these producers were forced to plant cardamom plantations afresh and it will take at least two years for production to start from it.

Usually the season of plucking and preparation of cardamom starts in June-July, but this time it is likely to start from the end of August or beginning of September. Last year, there was a good production of cardamom in the country,

whereas the production of the current year is expected to be weak. The market price of cardamom is high and only these factors are in favor of the producers.

The upward trend in prices is expected to continue in the coming times as well. Festive demand has started coming out in cardamom. The weather has not yet completely become normal in the major producing areas of Kerala.