Cardamom

General Characteristics
Cardamom is the 'Queen of Spices' as it is one of the most exotic and highly prized spices. Cardamom plants
normally start bearing two years after planting. There are three distinctive types of cardamom grown in India
viz., Malabar, Mysore and Ceylon type. The two major commercial varieties of small cardamom in the world
are the Malabar and the Guatemalan. Indian cardamom is slightly smaller, but more aromatic.
Global Demand-Supply Scenario
Guatemala, India, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, El Salvador, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Papua New Guinea are
the major cardamom growing countries. Guatemala produces nearly two-third of the total global cardamom
production

Major Indian Markets

Cardamom is sold at auction centers. Important markets for cardamom in the country are Vandanmendu,
Bodinayakanur, Kumily, Thekkady, Kumbum and Pattiveeran Patti in Kerala.

Current Status1

Cardamom prices are ruling firm and staying above the historical average despite strong arrivals in the
market. Currently, the price of cardamom in the market is hovering around Rs 940-970 per kg, substantially
lower than the record high of Rs 1,950-2,000 achieved during June 2010. Traders feel that the prices would
stay firm in the near-term due to the good festival demand. In the long-term, it may take a cue from
production reports from Guatemala. The total arrivals in the current season has touched 1,631 tonne as
against 1,638 tone recorded for the same period in the last season. Close to 10,290 tonne of cardamom was
auctioned in the last season. Production is reported to be very good in the current season due to highly
conducive climatic conditions. KK Devassia of Cardamom Growers Association said that plantations in
Idukki district are reporting good yield and harvesting is progressing well. However, there are some concerns
that continuous rains lashing the state would lead to fungus attacks on plants. “Excessive rains and logging
could lead to fungal attacks.

Black Pepper
1
Source retrieved on Oct 18th 2010 www.financialexpress.com
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Angiosperma
Class: Dicotyledonae
Order: Piperales
Family : Piperaceae
Genus : Piper
Botanical Name: Piper nigrum

Geographical Sources: Black pepper is native to Malabar, a region in the Western Coast of South India,
part of the union state Kerala. It is also grown in Malaysia and Indonesia since about that time when it was
found in the Malabar Coast. In the last decades of the 20th century, pepper production increased dramatically
as new plantations were founded in Thailand, Vietnam, China and Sri Lanka. The most important producers
are India and Indonesia, which together account for about 50% of the whole production volume.

Current Status

Erratic distribution of monsoon rains and diseases are likely to keep the Indian pepper production at almost
the same level as last year. Production in Wayanad and Idukki in Kerala is estimated to remain same or may
show a small decline while the Coorg area in Karnataka is reporting lower berry formation. Indian pepper
production for the last two years has been pegged at 50,000 tonne with the domestic demand assumed at
40,000-45,000 tonne. Production in Idukki would be same as last year despite good rains and almost
conducive climate conditions. Diseases are plaguing most of the plantations and the farmers are not keen on
taking remedial measure due to the high cost of labour