Long term performance of cardamom - an economic appraisal

Abstract

Field trials wereconducted by adopting High Production Technology (HPT) at Chettalli (Coorg District, Karnataka) to study the sustained yield, various input requirement and the economics in cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum Maton) cultivation in the long term. Highest yield of 1,625 kg ha¯ˡ (dry) was obtained during the fourth year of planting. On an average for ten crop seasons, 662.72 kg ha¯ˡ (dry) capsules was obtained in the trials which is almost five times more than the national average yield of 140 kg ha¯ˡ. Cultivation of cardamom is found to be highly labour intensive. Out of 729.59 labour days required per ha per year during bearing period, the women labourers constituted a major chunk (64.08 per cent). About 55.56 per cent and 11.01 per cent of labour requirement was for harvesting and trashing operations respectively. A net income of Rs.1,09,147.53/ha (average of 10 crop seasons) was obtained with a production cost of Rs.60.92 per kg (dry).