PLANTATION CROPSPLANTATION CROPS

Cardamom Plantation – From an Cardamom Plantation – From an economic point of view economic point of view

By:

Merlin Thomas

QUEEN OF SPICESQUEEN OF SPICES

Indian name - ElaichiIndian name - Elaichi Botanical Name - Elettaria CardamomumBotanical Name - Elettaria Cardamomum Family Name - ZingiberaceaeFamily Name - Zingiberaceae Parts used - FruitParts used - Fruit Habitat - East Asia CountriesHabitat - East Asia Countries Origin - S. India and SrilankaOrigin - S. India and Srilanka

CARDAMOM CROP

In India, cardamom grows under natural conditions of the evergreen forests in the Western Ghats. It thrives best in tropical forests at altitudes ranging from 600-1500 metres, receiving a well-distributed rainfall of over 150 cm and a temperature of 10o- 35oC. its optimum growth and development is observed in warm and humid places under the canopy of lofty, evergreen forest trees. It is highly sensitive to wind and drought and, therefore areas liable to be affected by these conditions are unsuitable. Water logging or excessive moisture is equally injurious. The ideal site is a sloping land with good drainage.Fruits mature in about 3 to 4 months after flowering. They are small trilocular capsules, each containing about 15 to 20 seeds. On maturity, fruits turn into pale green. Under favourable conditions of the environment, a healthy adult plant would annually produce about 200 capsules, with a green weight of about 900 g, which on processing yields about 200 g, of dry cap.

Agronomical featuresAgronomical features

Trade Statistics of Trade Statistics of CardamomCardamom

Largest producers – Guatemala, India, Largest producers – Guatemala, India, TanzaniaTanzania

Largest consumers – Saudi Arabia,India, Largest consumers – Saudi Arabia,India, PakistanPakistan

Major exporters – Costa Rica, Major exporters – Costa Rica, Guatemala, IndonesiaGuatemala, Indonesia

Major importers – Saudi Arabia, KuwaitMajor importers – Saudi Arabia, Kuwait Average export in a year – 23000 tonesAverage export in a year – 23000 tones

Area, Productivity and Average Area, Productivity and Average yield per hectareyield per hectare

YearYear Area (h)Area (h) Production (t)Production (t) Avg yield/hectareAvg yield/hectare

1955-561955-56 50.050.0 3.03.0 6060

1960-611960-61 56.056.0 3.03.0 5454

1965-661965-66 57.057.0 4.04.0 7070

1966-671966-67 75.075.0 4.04.0 5353

1967-681967-68 73.073.0 3.03.0 4141

1968-691968-69 75.075.0 3.03.0 4040

1973-741973-74 75.975.9 3.23.2 4242

1978-791978-79 81.981.9 5.15.1 6262

1979-801979-80 87.487.4 4.94.9 5656

1980-811980-81 87.787.7 5.55.5 6363

1981-821981-82 100.6100.6 9.09.0 8989

1982-831982-83 100.3100.3 8.88.8 8585

India’s cardamom India’s cardamom production trend; Areaproduction trend; Area

75

80

85

90

95

100

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Growth rate of area in 10 Growth rate of area in 10 yearsyears

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 area

Area under cardamom, Area under cardamom, percentage share 2005-percentage share 2005-

0606

karnataka

kerala

tamilnadu

37

56

7

Stability in the AreaStability in the Area

There is no considerable changes in the There is no considerable changes in the area after 2003. due to lower cardamom area after 2003. due to lower cardamom prices since the last 5-6 years, planters prices since the last 5-6 years, planters showed less interest in the prospects of showed less interest in the prospects of new planning.new planning.

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

India’s cardamom production India’s cardamom production trend; productiontrend; production

Growth rate of Growth rate of production in 10 yearsproduction in 10 years

-30

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

40

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

productn

Production of cardamomProduction of cardamom

Cardamom is also referred to as ‘grains of Cardamom is also referred to as ‘grains of paradise’. India, Guatemala, Srilanka, Thailand paradise’. India, Guatemala, Srilanka, Thailand and Nepal are the major producers. The world and Nepal are the major producers. The world production of cardamom is around 35000 production of cardamom is around 35000 million tones per annum. India stands second million tones per annum. India stands second largest in the world production of cardamom. largest in the world production of cardamom. Production tumbled down around 2006, which Production tumbled down around 2006, which was caused by uneven rains in Kerala and was caused by uneven rains in Kerala and unfavorable weather conditions. There is a unfavorable weather conditions. There is a sharp dip in the growth rate of production after sharp dip in the growth rate of production after the year 1999.the year 1999.

India’s cardamom India’s cardamom production trend; yieldproduction trend; yield

0

20

40

60

80

100120

140

160

180

200

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Growth rate of yield in 10 Growth rate of yield in 10 yearsyears

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1997 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

yield

Yield of cardamomYield of cardamom

Yield levels play an important role in total production of any commodity inspite of higher area. Over the period of time yield levels in Cardamom has gone sharply due to cultivation of high yielding and better varieties. Yield levels remained steady around 215 kgs/ha during 2001-02 to 2003-04. Due to uneven rain fall and exhausted old plantations may lead to fall in the yield levels.

Dip in yield of cardamomDip in yield of cardamom

After 2005, one can see a clear dip in the After 2005, one can see a clear dip in the cardamom output. The extreme summer heat cardamom output. The extreme summer heat has done much damage to the crop. At least 30 has done much damage to the crop. At least 30 percent of it were destroyed thanks to the heat percent of it were destroyed thanks to the heat wave. Also the delay of summer shower helped wave. Also the delay of summer shower helped in the destruction. However, a major chunk of in the destruction. However, a major chunk of the plant area got good rainfall so the the plant area got good rainfall so the destruction was not that dire. India has an destruction was not that dire. India has an average production of 12000-13000 tones. The average production of 12000-13000 tones. The best quality cardamom is now fetching Rs.470 best quality cardamom is now fetching Rs.470 – Rs.500 a kg and Rs.350-370 is the average – Rs.500 a kg and Rs.350-370 is the average price.price.

State wise area and State wise area and production of cardamomproduction of cardamom

StatesStates 2002-032002-03 2003-042003-04 2004-052004-05 2005-062005-06

area pro area pro area pro area pro

KeralaKerala 4141241412 86808680 4133241332 88758875 4137841378 86168616 4136741367 97659765

KarnatakaKarnataka 2664426644 23102310 2683826838 17401740 2709427094 18791879 2717327173 17751775

Tamil NaduTamil Nadu 50695069 930930 50675067 965965 52535253 920920 52555255 10001000

TotalTotal 7312573125 1192011920 7323773237 1158011580 7372573725 1141511415 7379573795 1254012540

Annual average auction Annual average auction price of small cardamomprice of small cardamom

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Kerala

T.N.

Karnatka

Price targetPrice target Cardamom prices are mainly depending on the rain

fall in Kerala and other producing centers. However, prices are expected to go up sharply on account of lower production and huge demand in the coming months. Prices are projected to touch Rs. 500 per kg by this October and Rs. 550 in November - December 2006.

When considering the state wise price rate, Kerala and Tamil Nadu seems to be moving together. Karnataka tends to differ due to less yielding area.

BibliographyBibliography

Ashraf,N.V.K(1993), Journal of the Ashraf,N.V.K(1993), Journal of the Natural History Society 90(2).Natural History Society 90(2).

Brookfield(2002). Cultivating Biodiversity: Brookfield(2002). Cultivating Biodiversity: Understanding, analyzing and using Understanding, analyzing and using Agricultural Diversity. The United Nations Agricultural Diversity. The United Nations University, ITDG Publishing.University, ITDG Publishing.

National Multi Commodity Exchange of National Multi Commodity Exchange of India, A report on cardamom.India, A report on cardamom.

BibliographyBibliography

Bukingham,S.(2004), Fauna and Flora Bukingham,S.(2004), Fauna and Flora International Community: Synthesis International Community: Synthesis Report on Cardamom Cultivation.Report on Cardamom Cultivation.

Government of India; Ministry of Government of India; Ministry of Agriculture. Cocoa, areca nut and Agriculture. Cocoa, areca nut and Spices, statistics 1982 – 1986.Spices, statistics 1982 – 1986.

Karvy comtrade limited. A Seasonal Karvy comtrade limited. A Seasonal Outlook on Cardamom.Outlook on Cardamom.

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