JOIN USAt the same time, it will put an end to the adulteration. So far, Coorg green cardamom was mixed with Gwatimala cardamom and was sold as Indian cardamom. However, with the Coorg green cardamom getting GI status, adulteration will end. Just like the way Darjeeling tea has got worlwide recognition, Coorg green cardamom will also get international status.
“With the Coorg green cardamom getting GI status, it can be exported to foreign countries under a brand name. If the growers maintain the quality, then they can fetch good price,” said Spices Board Joint Director (Development) H S Srinivas.
At present, the good quality of cardamom fetches Rs 800 per kg. Common cardamom gets Rs 500 to Rs 600 per kg. With the Coorg green cardamom getting GI status, the demand and price will also increase.” There is good market for Coorg green cardamom, Nelyani and green gold cardamom. Cardamom is grown in 12,047 hectare land in Kodagu. The harvest is being done in 7,500 hectares. The yield is 800 tonne. One hectare gets only 101 kg yield. In Kerala, growers are fetching 250 to 300 kg yield per hectare. Change in climate, shortage of labourers, diseases affecting cardamom and conversion of cardamom land to coffee plantations have led to decrease in the area coming cardamom, he explained. Srinivas said owing to the heavy rains which lashed Kodagu for 25 days have affected cardamom flowers to some extent.
Cardamom is grown in 20,000 hectare in the State. The harvest is done in 15,000 hectare. Support is given under 11th five year plan for the development of cardamom. Spices Board has decided to supply good quality cardamom saplings to the growers. It has been decided to distribute 5.5 lakh saplings to 5,000 hectare land this year. On priority basis, growers will be given saplings at the rate of Rs 3.50. The cardmom saplings can be planted by August end. The registered growers who would like to go for replantation of cardamom (8 hectare or 20 acre), the growers are given financial assistance for the replantation. Interested growers must send their applications to field offices.
For the development of cardamom estates, it has been decided to introduce mass retransplantation. Those growers with four hectare land will be given 33 per cent financial assistance for the retransplantation of cardamom. Those who have more than four hectare and below 8 hectare land will get 25 per cent assistance. In 2008-09, 980 growers have replanted cardamom in 479 hectare land.