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7.Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum)

Cardamom (or cardamon) refers to several plants of the similar genera Elettaria and Amomum in the

ginger family Zingiberaceae. Both genera are native to India, Nepal and Bhutan; they are recognised by

their small seed pods, triangular in cross-section and spindle-shaped, with a thin, papery, outer shell and

small black seeds. Guatemala is the biggest producer and exporter of cardamom in the world, followed by

India. Some other countries, such as Sri Lanka, have also begun to cultivate it. Elettaria pods are lightgreen while Amomum pods are larger and dark brown.It is the world's third most expensive spice by

weight, outstripped in market value only by saffron and vanilla.

7.1 Agronomic Requirements for cultivation

The cardamom tree needs shade and moisture. This tree is cultivated under forest trees and other shade

trees at elevations of 600 m and 1200m in the hill country. The land area under cultivation and the

production has declined. At present the area under cultivation is approximately 5400 hectares with more

than 50% in Kandy District. Matale, Kurunegala, Kegalla and Ratnapura District grow the balance

50%.The exports are mainly to the Middle East, India and U.K.

7.2 Recommended varieties:

Recently, a few planters isolated high-yielding plants and started multiplying them on a large scale. The

most popular high-yielding variety is 'Njallani'. 'Njallani, also known as rup-ree-t, is a unique high-

yielding cardamom variety developed by an Sri Lankan farmer, Sebastian Joseph has developed a purely

white flowered variety of Vazhuka type green cardamom having higher yield than Njallani. The variety

has high adaptability to different shade conditions and can also be grown in waterlogged areas.

7.3 Field planting and spacing:

Seeds must be germinated and planted in Polythene Bags. Cloves are usually spaced 6.0 m x 7.25 m. The

selected 15 to 20 months old seedlings may be planted in the beginning of the rainy season. Shade isessential during the first two or three years of growth. Thereafter full exposure to light is beneficial.

7.4Mixed cropping:

Cardamom can be mixed cropped with coconut and tea.

7.5 Harvesting:

The main harvest season of cardamom in Sri Lanka is between August-February. Cardamom reaches

yielding stage two years after planting. The primary physical markets of cardamom are Kandy,Matale,Kurunegala, Kegalla and Ratnapura District

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Prices

The average price of cardamom on auctions in Sri Lanka during 2011-2012 was 900.00 Rupees per 1 kg

compared with the 750.00 Rupees in the same period a year ago. In the current fiscal, auction price on

average has stayed around 1000.00 Rupees per 1 kg.

Fertilizers

A fertilizer dose of 30:60:30 kg|ha is recommended for gardens in Kandy mostly for the gardens under

rainfed condition. 75: 75:150 NPK is the recommendation for the cardamom planted in irrigated

condition. Fertilizer is applied in two split doses. The first application during May will help in the

production of suckers and development of capsules and the second application during late September will

help the initiation of panicles and suckers. Only half the dose of fertilizer is to be applied during the first

year and full does is given from second year onwards. Cardamom being a surface feeder, deep placement

of fertilizer is not advisable. The fertilizer is applied at a radius of 30 cm and covered with a thin layer of

soil.