With mercury soaring, cardamom crop in hundreds of acres of land in the Cardamom Hill Reserve and the newly planted areas of the high range is in peril. Day temperature has increased considerably, a factor which will negatively impact the total production in the coming season beginning July/August.
Severe drought has largely affected the newly planted areas where the possibility of irrigation is low. Cardamom cultivation needs a humid climate and a low temperature to thrive. This season, the climate was mostly unfavourable for cardamom and the losses are estimated to be very high, says Sebastian K.J., a farmer at Anavilasam, near Kumily.
This is at a time when the prices have remained low. Marketing sources at Kattappana on Thursday say the average price has remained at Rs.500 to Rs.570 per kilogram. The quality of cardamom reaching the market is poor and the season is coming to an end. Cardamom stocked at the peak of the season gets the highest price, said a trader.
Summer rains resulting in low temperature was a common feature during the last season. This led to a good yield in the current season, said Mr. Sebastian. In the newly planted areas where shade is inadequate, the plants have started to wither, he added.
