Poor rain takes flavour out of cardamom

Cardamom auctioned last season at a cheap price are now being traded through online as the prices are picking up. The deficit rainfall in Kerala by 43 per cent has affected the cardamom crop, with an expected production coming down to half in the next season.

Cardamom farmers were alleging that already the prices have declined and it touched `800, which was the price during 1982. The heavy production last year prompted the traders to buy at a low price, which is now being auctioned at the market.

Cardamom Growers Association president K S Mathew said, “When the prices declined to an all-time low last year, the cardamom sold to traders was stored in various warehouses. Now these cardamom are sold again through online trading giving huge profit for the traders.