The year 2024 was not good for cardamom growers

27-Dec-2024 04:09 PM

The year 2024 has been a challenging one for cardamom growers, particularly in Idukki, Kerala, which is one of the largest producing regions.

The crop faced significant setbacks due to a combination of adverse weather conditions, natural disasters, and pest-disease attacks.

At the beginning of the year, growers were hopeful due to favorable rainfall, but from January to May, there was a lack of rain, combined with high temperatures.

This led to the drying up of crops, especially for small and marginal farmers who have less than five acres of land and lack proper irrigation facilities. Even large-scale growers experienced a 20-30% crop loss.

When the southwest monsoon arrived in June, it brought with it a surge in fungal diseases, further worsening the situation. Experts predict a 30-40% decline in the yield rate of small cardamom for 2024,

with total production likely dropping from around 25,000 tonnes in 2023 to only 15,000 tonnes this year. The Idukki region alone saw about 30% of its crop damaged due to unfavorable weather conditions.

Despite the production decline, cardamom prices saw a significant increase. The price of small (green) cardamom, which was around Rs 1650 per kg in January, surged to Rs 2950 per kg by December.

While the overall production of cardamom is expected to fall by 40-50% compared to the previous year, prices are likely to remain high.

Some analysts predict that by April 2025, prices could rise further to between Rs 3500-3800 per kg. If the spring season brings favorable rainfall, the new crop in July-August could experience better production, potentially leading to a slight decrease in prices in the latter half of the year.

In summary, although the growers faced a challenging year in terms of crop yield, the higher prices of cardamom provide some relief, though the future of the crop remains dependent on the weather and disease management.