Weather-Related Damages Threaten Cardamom Productivity

Cardamom plantations in Kerala’s Idukki district, a key growing area, have been severely impacted by inclement weather, including heavy rains and strong winds. The adverse conditions have led to a fungal outbreak on the plants. Which is likely to reduce productivity in the upcoming 2024-25 season due to extensive plant damage.

According to PC Punnoose, General Manager of KCPMC Ltd, the productivity of cardamom in the current season is expected to be lower than usual. The drought from January to May devastated many plantations. Especially those managed by small and marginal farmers with less than five acres of land. These farmers, who are vital to the sector for supplying quality cardamom, have been forced to replant their fields. Which will take at least two years before yielding a new crop.

Delayed Harvest and Market Repercussions

Typically, the harvest season for cardamom begins between June and July, but this year it has been delayed, with harvesting expected to start only from the end of August to mid-September. As a result, productivity is on a downward trend compared to the previous year’s bountiful crop. Punnoose noted that, aside from prices, nothing is currently favorable for cardamom—neither the productivity, climate, nor plant health.

Due to the lower crop output, cardamom prices in the auction market have risen to $27 per kg. However, demand remains subdued in upcountry markets due to lean months. And there is also little momentum in the export market. Importers are closely watching India due to crop losses in Guatemala, a major competitor. So far, there has been no demand for premium grades such as 7-8 mm and 8 mm cardamom. Which are typically sought after in export markets.

Declining Cardamom Production

SB Prabhakar, a cardamom planter in Idukki, reported that the Guatemala crop has also been affected by drought induced by El Niño. The combined drop in production in both India and Guatemala is expected to contribute to a sharp rise in global cardamom prices. Domestic production has suffered due to a 122-day drought from January to May, followed by damage from winds in July. The upcoming crop is anticipated to be around 50 percent of last year’s yield, estimated at 14,000 to 16,000 tonnes.

Due to these challenges, some growers outside Kerala's Cardamom Hill Reserve (CHR) are shifting back to robusta coffee and black pepper cultivation, which are currently fetching record prices. The complete loss of cardamom plants due to drought has driven this change in cultivation practices.

Cardamom plantations in Kerala’s Idukki district are facing a tough year due to severe weather conditions, which have delayed the harvest and reduced productivity. The market is witnessing higher prices, but the overall outlook for cardamom remains challenging. With some farmers shifting to alternative crops in response to the ongoing difficulties.