The Spices Board has provided Rs 7.21 crore financial aid to over 23,000 cardamom farmers to overcome the falling prices, high labour cost and increased prices of fertilisers and pesticides.
The financial aid will be provided from Cardamom Development Fund Trust.
The crop loss due to deficient rainfall and high temperature is likely to be up to 20-25 per cent and plant loss about 5-10 per cent in Idukki district during the season 2016-17.
"The decision to provide financial assistance to 23,232 farmers was taken after making field observations and feedbacks obtained from individual farmers, farmers' associations and Spices Board officials."
"The erratic weather had severely affected the yield and plant loss of cardamom", Dr A Jayathilak, Chairman, Spices Board said in a release.
The withering of leaves and leaf sheaths was observed in a large number of cardamom plants.
In some extreme cases, even tillers and panicles had completely dried up, he pointed out.
The long dry spell from December 2015 to the first fortnight of May this year had adverselyaffected cardamom plantations in Idukki district as this period is critical for the development of tillers and panicle initiation.
The impact of long dry spell may affect production and productivity in the ensuing season and the fluctuating weather is not considered a favourable sign for cardamom farmers.
