Cardamom pesticide residue tests now at Spices Board labs

Cardamom farmers can now test for the presence of pesticide residue at Spices Board labs, sparing them the inconvenience of taking the produce to far off places for this important test, a top official said.

Spices Board Chairman Subhash Vasu, who recently assumed charge, said the test samples would be collected at the Indian Cardamom Research Institute at Mailadumpara and the Spices Park office at Puttady in Idukki district.

He stated this while interacting with a group of small scale farmers yesterday at the Spices Park, a Spices Board release said.

Vasu noted that farmers are the backbone of agriculture and traders could exist and exporters thrive only when there are farmers to support them.

"Hence, the board will take steps that will ensure the co-operation and co-existence of these three parties. All my efforts will be in this regard," he said.

Vasu also promised the farmers that he would take effective steps to draw the attention of the union government to the issues affecting them.

The Chairman's visit was intended to provide a momentum to the awareness campaign on judicious use of pesticides and chemicals initiated by the Spices Board in Idukki, the release said.

Hundreds of small scale farmers attended the event, presided over by Rema Shree, Director of the Spices Board.