In the realm of spices, the journey of big cardamom unfolds with its first harvest in central producing states of India, shrouded in a climate of uncertainty. Adverse weather conditions have cast doubt over the new crop’s potential, potentially leading to a significant decline in big cardamom production. As a result, recent market sentiments have been bearish for this aromatic wonder. However, despite these challenges, big cardamom sales remain on the low.
Big cardamom’s inaugural harvest is underway across the nation’s leading producing states. This season, however, the stage is set with a higher price tag. Early reports indicate an opening price ranging from $11.57 to $11.69 per kilogram, a notable ascent from around $6.63 per kilogram a year ago. Typically, this harvest graces us towards the end of August or the initial fortnight of September. However, the backdrop to this season’s crop has been quite peculiar.
High temperatures, insect infestations
During the growth of the crop, central-producing states experienced uncharacteristically high temperatures. Furthermore, the crop fell prey to insect infestations, compounding the woes. Adding to the complexity, the current monsoon season has yielded a meager 40-45 percent less rainfall than usual. This unfortunate confluence of factors has raised the specter of substantial losses, potentially reaching up to 70 percent in the first crop of big cardamom.
New crop remains at less than half of the expected volume
In the most recent auction held on September 128, the average auction price of big cardamom slightly increased. It’s worth noting that the unloading of the new crop remains at less than half of the expected volume. A similar situation prevailed last season, where nearly half of the big cardamom crop was harvested in Assam. This substantially reduced the supply of this aromatic treasure from Assam, subsequently impacting auctions. Crop damage reports have also surfaced from Bhutan and Sikkim. This implies that a significant inflow of big cardamom into domestic markets may only occur after the second harvest, around the upcoming Diwali festival.