Lok Sabha Question No. 577 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-06
Subject: Cardamom Board
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Dean Kuriakose

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 577 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06/12/2023

## CARDAMOM BOARD

## 577. ADV. DEAN KURIAKOSE:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मं त्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government will interfere immediately to arrest the drop in prices of Cardamom;
- (b) if so, the details thereof including steps taken in the last ten years to stop drop in prices;
- (c) whether  the  Government  will  institute  a  new  Cardamom  Board  after  separating  it  from  the Spices Board and accord it with necessary resources to function;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether the Government proposes setting up of a National Cardamom Board along the lines of National Turmeric Board;
- (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (g) whether the Government will ensure minimum support price for Cardamom; and
- (h) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

- (a) The weighted average auction prices of cardamom(small) for the last two crop seasons and the current crop season are given below:

| Crop Season (Aug-July)   |   Weighted average auction price of cardamom(small) (Rs/kg) |
|--------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2021-22                  |                                                      934.94 |
| 2022-23                  |                                                     1088.51 |
| 2023-24(Aug-Oct)*        |                                                     1828.52 |

Source: Spices Board (* Provisional)

The prices of cardamom (small) have shown an increasing trend from 2021-22 onwards.

(b) The  price  of  Cardamom  is  determined  in  the  open  market  based  on  supply  and  demand. However,  Spices  Board  has  taken  the  following  steps  to  improve  price  realization  for  Cardamom growers:

- i. Spices Board supports the growers through development programmes including quality planting material  production,  replanting,  irrigation  development,  improved  cardamom  curing  devices, quality improvement and capacity building programmes.
- ii. Spices  Board  has  introduced  cloud  based  e-auction  for  cardamom  by  linking  two  e-auction centres i.e. Puttady in Idukki District of Kerala and Bodinayaknur in Tamil Nadu.
- iii. Spices  Board  regularly  conducts  Buyer  Seller  Meets  and  Market  Linkage  programmes  to encourage the cardamom farmers/ farmers groups / FPOs to establish direct market linkage with exporters, processors and Institutional buyers.
- iv. The Board supports the exporters under Board's export promotion schemes viz. Participation in International Trade fairs, brand promotion, etc. for enhancing the exports leading to increase in domestic price of cardamom.
- v. Minimum  Import  Price  for  Cardamom  at  Rs.500/-  per  kg  was  issued  vide  notification  No 109/2009-2014 to reduce the possible import of low quality cardamom from other origins aimed at strengthening the demand for domestic produce.
- vi. The Board facilitates the growers and their producer societies in getting Authorized User (AU) certificate  for  GI  tagged  cardamoms  viz.  Alleppey  Green  Cardamom  and  Coorg  Green Cardamom. The AU Certificate helps the growers and their societies to get better price for the GI tagged cardamom.
- vii. The Board has introduced Special Auction for Lab tested cardamom from October 2022 onwards to facilitate a separate marketing channel for cardamom tested in lab for pesticides and artificial colours. The special e-auction facilitates sourcing of good quality cardamom for export markets and thereby helps the growers in better price realization.
- viii. The Board facilitates the growers and their producer societies in showcasing their products in the major national exhibitions through participation in Board's stall.
- ix. A weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme for Small Cardamom in Idukki district of Kerala was launched  as  a  pilot  project  to  protect  Small  Cardamom  growers  against  the  adverse  weather incidences.

(c) to (f) Presently, no such proposal is under consideration. Spices Board was constituted under the  Spices  Board Act,  1986,  by  merging  the  erstwhile  Cardamom  Board & Spices Export Promotion Council. The  mandate  for Spices Board  includes research, production,  development,  domestic marketing,  consumption  and  export  promotion  of  Cardamom  (Small  &  Large)  along  with  export promotion of 51 other spices.

(g) & (h) The  Commission  for  Agricultural  Costs and  Prices  (CACP)  under  the  Ministry  of Agriculture &  Farmers Welfare recommends  Minimum  Support  Price (MSP)  to the notified commodities. These commodities are mostly items of mass consumption of all India nature with fairly long shelf life and/or necessary for food/nutrition security. At present, cardamom is not covered under the notified commodities coming under the purview of CACP.

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