Heavy rains may reduce cardamom output by 40%

India's cardamom output may fall 35-40 per cent in 2007-08 (April-March) due to heavy rains and windy weather in Idukki, Kerala, the main cultivation area, said growers.

A good number of plants have either been uprooted or the blossoms destroyed, they said. Initial reports from the fields are indicating a fall in output by 40 per cent of last year's output of 11,000 tonne, said Jose Valy, a cardamom grower.

The main cardamom growing areas in the hilly district of Idukki have been experiencing heavy rains persistently for the past few days, he said. Rains are essential during the June-July period for a good crop, but the heavy rainfall is causing more harm than good, he said.

Growers are also worried that water logging in fields may lead to rotting of plants.

Heavy rains with winds have come after a severe dry spell in the March-April period that had caused wilting of cardamom plants in almost over 5,000 hectares, growers said.

In 2006-07, cardamom output was 11,000 tonne compared with 13,000 tonnes a year ago.

"If present situation persists, output in 2007-08 would be around 7,000 tonne," Valy said.

Fall in output is expected to help the commodity to firm up in the coming season commencing from August, dealers said.

Cardamom harvests for 2007-08 will commence by August and peak in October-November, they said.

Cardamom auctions are set to commence from the last week of July in most places.