Rs 122 Cr Scheme For Cardamom Replantation, Rejuvenation

The Union Government has given the nod for a Rs 122 crore scheme for replantation and rejuvenation of cardamom plantations in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in the next five years, Union minister of state for Commerce, Jairam Ramesh said. About Rs 58 crore would be utilized for the cardamom plantations in Kerala alone. The total area to replanted is 28,000 hectares, of which 10,000 hectares is in Kerala and Tamil Nadu and 18,000 hectares in Karnataka, the minister told a press meet here.

About 15,000 hectares will be rejuvenated in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The minister was speaking to reporters after inaugurating the first Cardamom e-auction centre at Vandanmedu in Kerala's Idukki district earlier in the day. The Rs 55 lakh centre will have 60 terminals for operation and has been provided with advanced server connection and network facilities with necessary power back up. The entire software developed is by Tata consultancy Services.

Five manual auction centers at Vandanmedu, Kumuli, Nedunkandam, Pulyammedu and Thekkady have been integrated into a single e-auction centre. The first E-Auction in Cardamom was inaugurated in Bodinaykanur, Tamil Nadu, on August 23 on an initial investment of Rs 22 lakh with 30 terminals.