IDUKKI: Even though Cardamom prices are above 2000, farmers are not making any profit. Farmers are in a situation where there is no product to sell when the price is high. There was a sharp decline in production as the monsoon rains declined, which became a backlash.

The average price was recorded at Rs 2081 per kg at the auction held at Puttady Spices Park on Saturday evening. The highest price was recorded at Rs 2801 per kg. This is the first time since 2019 that cardamom prices have seen a continuous surge. There has been an increase of about Rs.800 in the average price in the last one week.

Cardamom cultivation is mainly carried on depending on the monsoon rains. After June and July, there was no significant rain in August as well and from that it was certain that there would be a significant reduction in production. Traders say that this is the reason for the sudden rise in prices.

Before this, the record price of cardamom was registered at Rs 7000 per kg in the auction held on August 3, 2019. However, the cardamom market faced a collapse due to covid later. Last year, the retail sale of a kilo of cardamom was done at less than Rs 900. Now when the price has gone up, the small farmers have no cardamom to sell. The strategy of the big players is to keep the price of cardamom low.

Getting hot and there is no water to water

At present Idukki is the least rainfed district in the state. When the monsoon is crossing 70 days, rainfall in the district is less than 58 percent. Rains have been heavy for the past few years in the same season, but only about 10 days have seen an average rainfall so far this time. The current forecast is that it will rain in the third week of August. It is reported that the rainfall will decrease and the temperature will rise in September as well, which will be a big blow to the farmers.
Farmers are preparing to water the plants to protect the cardamom after the rains subsided, but currently, they have only enough water to use for a few weeks.

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'Farmers are in a situation like a crow who has mouth sores when the fig fruits are ripening. Despite getting the dream price, there is no cardamom to sell. Due to a lack of rain, the cardamom plant does not produce fruit. There is no water for watering."

Vijayan Cumbummettu,
Cardamom Farmer