Idukki: With the increasing content of pesticides that influence the exports of the caprile, spice boards have launched the initiative to promote organic methods in Kardamom’s agriculture in Idukki.
According to spice officials, foreign countries, especially Saudi Arabia, are the main buyers of cardamom and since 2018 they have decided not to buy Kardamom from India because of pesticides.
During the period 2017-18, India exported 5,650 tons of kardamom.
But since 2018, the exports are largely reduced.
“In the last financial year, India only exported 1,850 tons of Kardamom and in FY today it has been decided to export 6,500 tons.
But the date of exports until the date is only standing at 18 tons.
We have checked six pesticides for samples and found content from two pesticides in spices -Men “Saudi Arabia is the main importers of Indian Cardamom and they use it for the purpose of chewing.
When they report the problem of the pesticide residue, they decided to stop buying cardamom from India,” he said.
The spices in connection with Kerala Agricultural University (you) will provide assistance to promote organic agriculture Kardamom in this district.
“At present 15 farmers show willingness to switch to organic farming based on experiments.
The trial will be carried out at 165 hectares of land.
If it takes the desired results, we can change organic agriculture in the future,” the official added.
He said that a farmer from Nettithozhu in Idukki had turned to the agriculture of organic kardamoma and your council and spices provide assistance to him.
“In our experience, it’s a big success,” he said.
The official said that Cardamom was cultivated in almost 40,000 in the morning in Idukki by small farmers and large scale and it was their livelihood.
“Exporting is the main choice for the Kardamom sector.
Some farmers use prohibited pesticides in the past because they are not aware of the consequences,” Vijeesha said.
He said if the farmers want to turn to the organic method in the future, they must undergo training.
The Cardamom market was hit with a pandemic at a price dipped from RS7,000 per kg in August 2019 to Rs 1,000-1,200 in September, 2021 in the local market.
The average price recorded at auction held at the spice park in Bodinahuranur on Tuesday is Rs1,062 / kg.