LOW Indian cardamom prices are preventing growers from being able to nurture their plantations and threaten to result in reduced plantings next season, according to the Kerala Cardamom Growers' Association (KCGA). KCGA president T Ashok Kumar said that the average price this season is around Rs200 ($4.50) a kg compared with the average auction price of Rs622.87 a kg seen in 2001/02. In addition to declining prices, escalating production costs have meant that it is no longer remunerative to grow the spice. Production costs have risen of late due to soaring prices of agricultural inputs and high labour wages, said Mr Kumar... Read More