With the onset of the new crop season, the prices of green cardamom are showing a positive trend.
An average price of ₹2,642 a kg was quoted in the auction at Spices Park, Puttady, on Thursday. In the evening auction held by the Idukki Mahila Cardamom Producer Company Limited (IMCPC), 25,473 kg of cardamom arrived. The average price quoted was ₹2,642.73 a kg and the maximum price ₹3,212 a kg.
In the morning auction held by Spice More Trading Company, the average price was 2,553.40 a kg while the maximum price quoted was ₹3,050. Of the 36,903 kg of cardamom that arrived, 36,554 kg was sold.
According to cardamom vendors, as favourable summer rain was received in the cardamom-growing areas this year, the new crop has already started to arrive in the market. “The farmers have already begun the first harvest, but the size and weight of the capsules are very low, with only 30 to 40 kg arriving at the market. But the colour of the capsules is good,” said Albin Joseph, a cardamom vendor at Pathumury in Idukki.
Joshy Joseph, public relations officer (PRO) of Spice More Trading Company at Kumily, said that cardamom prices witnessed a significant surge at the Spices Board market on Thursday, rising by ₹150 to ₹170 a kg compared to the previous week. “The price hike can be attributed to the poor arrival of the spice, which has led to a shortage in supply. However, this upward trend has provided farmers with positive prospects as domestic buyers have shown increased interest in purchasing the commodity. Traders are optimistic that the market will maintain a steady trend in the coming days,” said Mr. Joseph.
Diseases, rain
Stany Pothen, chairman of the Cardamom Planters Federation, said that farmers were expecting a better crop this year. “But the widespread capsule rot and clump rot diseases in cardamom plants are posing a threat to cardamom production. The farmers are expecting a good crop in the August to December period.” However, Mr. Pothen said, diseases and heavy rain were creating an alarming situation in the areas where cardamom was grown.
According to the Agriculture department, 732.12 hectares of cardamom plantations were destroyed in the strong wind and heavy rain in the district from May 24 to July 10. “A total of 4,185 farmers have been affected. The total estimated loss is ₹512.49 lakh,” says an official.
Published – July 10, 2025 07:40 pm IST
