Cardamom harvesting will be delayed this season by at least 8-10 weeks due to the extreme heat in Idukki district of Kerala and Kambam area in Tamil Nadu, the two major growing regions.
According to reports from Idukki, where almost 45 per cent of the total production is carried out, fresh crop would hit the market only by mid-August. The first lots usually arrive at the auction centres by mid-June. Growers say the hot weather, coupled with poor summer rains, have dried the flowers in most plantations. It would take at least two months for fresh offshoots to appear and ripen into cardamom. Growers estimate production may drop 30 per cent this season.
Of the total area of 105,000 hectares under plantation, 32,500 hectares is in Idukki. Of the total output of 20,000 tonnes, roughly 9,500 tonnes come from this district. Interruption in electricity supply and low voltage have also affected irrigation since pre-monsoon rains have been poor.
The price of cardamom, however, has dropped because of the unwinding of stocks. Farmers said the chunk of the old stock is sold out and the delay in harvesting is likely to push up prices.
