Extremely hot climatic conditions in most of the cardamom-growing areas in Idukki district of Kerala have damaged 20 per cent of the plantations. According to growers in Udumbanchola taluk, where most of the plantations exist, the absence of summer showers have damaged plants as well as new offshoots. This may lead to a fall in production for the next season.
Around 35 per cent of offshoots have already been damaged, fresh crop in the next season will be delayed by four-six weeks. Normally harvesting begins by June, but this time it will commence by the last week of July or by early August.
Though other taluks like Thodupuzha and Peerumedu had got five-six summer showers during the past couple of weeks, most of the cardamom growing areas are yet to get it. So the hot and dry weather affects the plantations very badly. There is serious damage to new offshoots, but growers expect to recoup this if plantations get rainfall in the next couple of weeks.
According to them, this climatic condition prevailed in the last season badly hitting the production. This time, it is likely that the total output will fall 10-15 per cent. According to the data by growers, the total output last season was 11,000 tonnes. This season they estimate production of 9,000 tonnes only.
The dry weather condition is also a threat to black pepper as rain is essential for fresh offshoots. Though pepper plantations in Thodupuzha are not affected much, the dry weather had hit the plantations in the Thekkady-Kumily area of the district. Growers told Business Standard a major chunk of pepper vines were damaged in the area due to scorching summer heat. The average annual production is 45,000 tonnes.
The shortage of rain is likely to hit spices badly, but rubber and tea plantations are expected to perform better in the coming months.