Cardamom auctions to resume on December 26

Spices Board convenes meeting again to work out modalities

Harvested cardamom at a collection centre near Kochi. Cardamom arrivals are expected to increase from next week as harvesting will be on in full swing. As cardamom growing areas in Kerala receiving incessant rains for the past days which will harmful to plants as it may lead to decaying of stems, pinnacles and young fruits. Such weather conditions might pave the way for the onset of fungus, according to farmers. Digital Picture By K_K_Mustafah.03/09/2010

Cardamom auctions, which came to a halt on December 5 following the Mullaperiyar dam issue, will resume on December 26.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting convened by the Spices Board here on Tuesday and attended by people representing growers, including a lone representative from Tamil Nadu, auctioneers and traders, Board member Roy K. Paulose said. They would meet again at the Puttady Spices Park in Idukki district on December 23 to work out the modalities for the resumption of auction.

Since the borders were closed for vehicular traffic, planters and traders in Tamil Nadu informed the board of their inability to attend the Tuesday's meeting, a spokesman from the Spices Board said.

Planter N. Basheer Ahmmad said he would appeal to his fellow planters and farmers in Tamil Nadu to attend the Puttady meeting.

Mr. Paulose said that an estimated 100 tonnes of cardamom had been held up. There must also be losses, yet to be calculated, because of delay in harvesting in the last fortnight. “We are not delving into the losses but want to push forward the process of resuming auctions,” he said.

The last of the two auctions this month was held by the Cardamom Planters' Association and the Spices Trading Corporation Ltd. (STCL). Trade sources said STCL had not been able to deliver the 27 tonnes of cardamom auctioned on December 5 to buyers in Tamil Nadu as all the border points were virtually sealed. However, the CPA was able to deliver only a part of the nearly 50 tonnes of cardamom auctioned.

The border crossings are through three key points — Kumali (the busiest cardamom route between Tamil Nadu and Kerala), Bodimettu and Kambammettu. Though bulk of cardamom growing takes place in Kerala, 90 per cent of the trade is centred at Bodinaikannur, Thevaram and Kambam in Tamil Nadu on account of the dry weather conditions prevailed in these places, which are best suited to cardamom processing.

According to Spices Board figures, India exported 1,825 tonnes of cardamom and earned more than Rs.160 crore between April and September this fiscal against 335 tonnes and Rs.39.84 crore, respectively, for the same period last year.

The average price realised this year has been Rs.882.17 a kg. The export target for the current year has been fixed at 1,500 tonnes in terms of volume and Rs.120 crore in terms of value.