The Hindu : Cardamom loot thriving in forests

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 23, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Cardamom loot thriving in forests

By Ignatius Pereira

KOLLAM FEB. 22. Even though it may sound incredible, there is a 3,000-hectare spread of naturally growing cardamom plantation thriving within the deep jungles of the Western Ghats in the eastern sector of Kollam district. Linguistic demarcation of States during the 1950s resulted in more than one-third of this spread going to Tamil Nadu.

Yet, a good portion of the natural estate remains the property of Kerala and over the years the plantation has been producing cardamom worth crores of rupees annually. However, during the past couple of years, the entire produce is harvested and looted away allegedly by a Tamil Nadu-based mafia. As a result, Kerala is losing its precious and rightful forest produce revenue running into crores of rupees.

When the development was brought to the attention of the Forest Minister, K. Sudhakaran, he told The Hindu that a comprehensive inquiry would be launched into the same and strong measures would be taken to ensure that no one loots the forest wealth of the State. Mr. Sudhakaran said that immediate steps would be taken to study the whole area and initiate necessary action.

Cardamom is generally cultivated by individuals as a plantation in forest areas after obtaining the area as lease from the authorities since the plant survives only in high altitudes under the shade of evergreen trees within a tropical forest atmosphere having the right ingredients.

But the one thriving within the Achenkovil Forest area is presently neither cultivated nor tended by anyone. It thrives naturally. The story behind this cardamom spread is that centuries ago it was planted by the Kottavasal royal family and the produce from there was instrumental in making the historical Kollam Port, more than 100 km to the west, an important spice trading centre.

The supply of spices came from the forest areas there and cardamom was an important export item, mostly going to the erstwhile Persia, Roman and Chinese empires. Following the collapse of the Kottavasal royal family, the plantation got orphaned. But it survives even today. A shoot from the cardamom plant has a life of seven years. During the latter three years, it produces valuable pods, then withers away by giving birth to a couple of fresh shoots.

The whole plantation there has spread into three forest sections coming under the Achenkovil range plus the Tamil Nadu portion too. Under the Kerala forest area, the plantation is spread over Kodamurutti, Karikapullu, Ezharai, Kanayar and Thalamthodu areas.

Over the years, the cardamom produce from the area was harvested by the tribals living within the Kerala geographical limits and handed over to the respective societies under the control of the State Government. They were paid justifiable collection charges for the same and each harvest meant substantial revenue for the State.

The tribals at Achenkovil said that since the past couple of years, a mafia from the neighbouring State had usurped the whole plantation. Kesavan, a tribesman, from Achenkovil, who had been engaged in harvesting the cardamom crop for several years in the past, says that a well-armed gang from Tamil Nadu threatens and chases away the tribals from Kerala whenever they go to harvest the cardamom during the season.

Cardamom can be harvested twice a year. The first crop is during the Malayalam month of `Karkadakam' and the second three months later in `Thulam'. The cardamom produced from the Achenkovil jungle area is of superior quality since the pods maintain the mandatory green tinge even after drying. Cardamom from these areas is in great demand, for it fetches a high price.

Mafia groups earn in crores without spending anything. They have even reared an armed gang for the purpose. The whole produce is smuggled to another State and then brought back to Kerala for trading. The monetary returns go elsewhere.

A social activist and the Pathanapuram mandalam committee president of the NCP, Prasad P. Nair, says that the cardamom loot could not be checked unless the Forest Department strengthened vigil in the whole area, at least during the harvest season. He suggested that a special task force was needed for the purpose since the harvest was worth crores of rupees.

It takes three days' trekking to reach the plantation area from the Kerala side and 12 hours from the Tamil Nadu side and this gives the mafia the advantage.

Mr. Nair says that cardamom is not the only produce looted from the Kerala forests of the area in this manner. Even other minor forest produces like ginger, turmeric and the much sought-after ponnampoo, having ayurvedic properties and honey available in plenty in the area are also being looted.

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