OVER the course of the week to September 7, there was a considerable easing in prices of Indian cardamom as concerns over the crop have abated. With heavy rains finally letting up, cardamom farmers of Kerala's Idukki district, who contribute more than 70% of the aromatic spice produced in India, have stopped worrying over the possibility of fungus damaging the crop. Cardamom plants are sensitive to rain, with productivity being directly related to the volume and number of days of rainfall. The spice requires low temperatures, high humidity and regular drizzles. Heavy rains damage the crop, whereas intermittent rains that keep the atmosphere humid augur well for it... Read More