Date:26/11/2004 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/11/26/stories/2004112600811000.htm

Back Spices Board moots auction system for large cardamom

Our Bureau

Kochi , Nov. 25

THE Spices Board in a bid to arrest the exploitation of cardamom (large) growers and to promote its sales has asked the local dealers to conduct auctions besides suggesting to the Sikkim Government that all purchases of the commodity be routed through auctions.

During the recent meeting with the cardamom traders and growers in Sikkim, the Board had asked the local traders to come forward to conduct auctions in the major growing centres in Sikkim to avoid distress sale, Mr S. Kannan, Director (Marketing) of the Board told Business Line. "Since some of the traders in Sikkim were exploiting the farmers, holding of auction was suggested for realising a better price by the farmers," he said.

The Board has also proposed to take it up with the Sikkim Government for insisting on all purchases of large cardamom from auction for sale or transfer of the material to other destinations, he said.

Besides, he said, most of the cardamom in Sikkim is grown organically and hence, the Board has encouraged the farmers for obtaining organic certification from the reputed certifiers.

He said the Board had sanctioned 100 numbers of modified cardamom curing "bhatties" for improving the curing system and quality of the product.

Also, considering the need for vermi compost and trichoderma, the Board has considered setting up of vermi compost units and also other bio-control agents such as vermi wash and trichoderma.

In addition, for providing training to youths on production of quality-oriented bio control agents and scientific cultivation of large cardamom, the Board has agreed to provide training to about six cardamom farmers at the Indian Cardamom Research Institute, Myladumpara in Kerala's Idukki district.

The country has over 26,500 hectares under cardamom (large) in Sikkim and West Bengal. The former tops with around 24,000 hectare under the crop with a yielding area of about 20,000 hectare while West Bangal has an estimated area of 2,700 hectare. The total production in Sikkim is estimated at around 4,700 tonnes while in West Bengal 600 tonnes.

Exports of cardamom (large) were commenced in 1987-88 with 155 tonnes and it went up to 1,703 tonnes valued at Rs 12.6 crore in 1997-98 with a unit value of Rs 73.99 a kg.

For the current fiscal, the export target is 1,400 tonnes and during April-October, exports stood at 300 tonnes compared with 345 tonnes in the same period last fiscal.