Kochi: Good cardamom prices during the current season seem to have encouraged the growers to take up replanting in those estates where the plants were destroyed by drought last year.
Replanting has taken place in around 1,000 hectares (ha) and more areas would be replanted in the coming years. The growers are further motivated by the announcement by the Spices Board that 25,000 ha would be replanted during the 11th Plan-period. The Board will provide subsidy for replanting and under the scheme 5,000 ha would be replanted every year in the next five years.
Njallani variety
The replanting cost per hectare is estimated at Rs 1.28 lakh and the growers having up to four ha would be given 33 per cent of the cost as subsidy, while those having area above four ha and up to 8 ha would be provided with 25 per cent subsidy, T. Ashok Kumar, President, Kerala Cardamom Growers Union and Member, Spices Board, told Business Line.
“Most of the planters are ready to do replanting. But, it might cover an area of about 3,000 ha a year compared with 5,000 ha target set by the Board,” he said. He said that the growers prefer to plant ‘Njallani’ variety developed by a private planter in Idukki district some time ago as it has proved to be high yielding besides being drought- resistant, he said.
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According to him, another smaller grower in Chakkupallam in the district has come out with a modified version of Njallani named ‘Pachaimani’, which is not only high yielding but also bear bold capsules, with long panicles, he said.
High yield varieties
The average yield per hectare is below 300 a kg in the country. But the yield per hectare of Njallani ranged from 500 kg to 1,000 kg, he said. Most of the areas under cardamom are of old varieties, with low yield and requiring replanting with high yielding varieties.
An estimated 75,000 ha are under cardamom. Kerala tops both in terms of area and production followed by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Kerala estimated to have 42,000 ha. Karnataka has about 27,000 ha while Tamil Nadu around 6,000 ha under the crop.
The total output which was the highest in 2005-06 with 12,540 tonnes, has been declining continuously since then and it is estimated to be below 10,000 tonnes during the current season.
Surplus Funds
Given the favourable weather conditions this year, the crop is likely to witness some improvement during next season. When the replanted new varieties start yielding, it will push up the output from next season. However, the full benefit of it would be available from the 2009 crop onwards, he predicted. It will depend mainly on the vagaries of the weather, he added.
According to Ashok Kumar even though the cardamom price has been ruling high during the current season, the growers would not have surplus funds to plough back because of the drop in output and the loan liabilities of the previous years.
“Therefore, we will have to depend by and large on the Government support for replanting and other farm activities,” he said.
Replanting has taken place in around 1,000 hectares (ha) and more areas would be replanted in the coming years. The growers are further motivated by the announcement by the Spices Board that 25,000 ha would be replanted during the 11th Plan-period. The Board will provide subsidy for replanting and under the scheme 5,000 ha would be replanted every year in the next five years.
Njallani variety
The replanting cost per hectare is estimated at Rs 1.28 lakh and the growers having up to four ha would be given 33 per cent of the cost as subsidy, while those having area above four ha and up to 8 ha would be provided with 25 per cent subsidy, T. Ashok Kumar, President, Kerala Cardamom Growers Union and Member, Spices Board, told Business Line.
“Most of the planters are ready to do replanting. But, it might cover an area of about 3,000 ha a year compared with 5,000 ha target set by the Board,” he said. He said that the growers prefer to plant ‘Njallani’ variety developed by a private planter in Idukki district some time ago as it has proved to be high yielding besides being drought- resistant, he said.
• Check out our Yearender Special
According to him, another smaller grower in Chakkupallam in the district has come out with a modified version of Njallani named ‘Pachaimani’, which is not only high yielding but also bear bold capsules, with long panicles, he said.
High yield varieties
The average yield per hectare is below 300 a kg in the country. But the yield per hectare of Njallani ranged from 500 kg to 1,000 kg, he said. Most of the areas under cardamom are of old varieties, with low yield and requiring replanting with high yielding varieties.
An estimated 75,000 ha are under cardamom. Kerala tops both in terms of area and production followed by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Kerala estimated to have 42,000 ha. Karnataka has about 27,000 ha while Tamil Nadu around 6,000 ha under the crop.
The total output which was the highest in 2005-06 with 12,540 tonnes, has been declining continuously since then and it is estimated to be below 10,000 tonnes during the current season.
Surplus Funds
Given the favourable weather conditions this year, the crop is likely to witness some improvement during next season. When the replanted new varieties start yielding, it will push up the output from next season. However, the full benefit of it would be available from the 2009 crop onwards, he predicted. It will depend mainly on the vagaries of the weather, he added.
According to Ashok Kumar even though the cardamom price has been ruling high during the current season, the growers would not have surplus funds to plough back because of the drop in output and the loan liabilities of the previous years.
“Therefore, we will have to depend by and large on the Government support for replanting and other farm activities,” he said.
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