Cardamom cultivation

• The timely setting in of North-East monsoon in high-ranges has brought smiles on the face of cardamom growers in realising better productivity and price for the crop.

ABOUT CARDAMOM CULTIVATION

• Cardamom, popularly known as Queen of Spices is native to the evergreen rainy forests of Western Ghats in South India.
• It is cultivated in about 1, 00,000 ha mainly confined to the Southern States viz; Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
• It contains vitamin C, niacin, magnesium, and potassium
• Cardamom is used for flavouring various preparations of food, confectionary, beverages and liquors.
• Soil and climate-
  • Thick shady areas with loamy soil are ideal for cultivating cardamom.
  • This crop can be grown at an elevation from 600 to 1500 m.
  • Annual rainfall range- 150 to 400 cm
  • Temperature- 10^o to 35^o C
  • Areas exposed to heavy winds are unsuitable.
  • Adequate drainage must be provided.
  • It is grown in forest loamy soils which are usually acidic in nature with a pH range of 5.0 – 6.5
• Challenges-
  • Cardamom is a highly climate sensitive and location specific crop.
  • Pest and disease incidence is also very high in Cardamom.

Cardamom is grown mainly in high altitude areas and hence the scope for area expansion is limited