El Niño effect: Spices Board confirms dip in cardamom production in Idukki
With a monsoon rainfall deficiency of over 55% in the cardamom-growing areas of Idukki district, the Spices Board has officially confirmed an expected drop in
With a monsoon rainfall deficiency of over 55% in the cardamom-growing areas of Idukki district, the Spices Board has officially confirmed an expected drop in production for the upcoming harvesting season. According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, the normal rainfall in Idukki during the monsoon season up to July 14 is 1,096.6 mm, but the district received only 492 mm. Spices Board data shows a widespread rainfall deficit across the high ranges of Idukki district, the primary production hub for small cardamom. The fallout from this deficit will alter the microclimate of the cardamom ecosystem, delaying flowering and fruit setting. It is also expected to increase irrigation demands and elevate the risk of Fusarium wilt and pest infestations, such as thrips and borers.
“The rainfall recorded so far at the Indian Cardamom Research Institute (ICRI) in Myladumpara, Idukki, for June 2026 is 234.8 mm, compared to the long-period average rainfall of 375.98 mm for the month. While rainfall has been near optimal in the small cardamom-growing areas of Tamil Nadu and large cardamom-growing regions of the Northeast, the strengthening of El Niño will affect the crop. It is likely to impact the production of both small and large cardamom by around 10%,” the Spices Board stated. Spices Board Chairperson Adv. Sangeetha Vishwanathan told The Hindu that due to the El Niño effect, cardamom production in the 2026–27 crop season may dip compared to last year.
“The Spices Board has already received information that cardamom production will dip in the upcoming crop season. Due to the absence of proper rain, capsule setting did not occur in the cardamom plants. The Spices Board has already begun collecting data for the crop estimation,” Ms. Vishwanathan said. She further stated that the 2025–26 season was an excellent period for cardamom farmers in terms of both price and production. “In the 2025–26 season, total cardamom production reached 24,715 tonnes, which was a 16% increase compared to the previous year. Cardamom production in the 2024–25 season was 20,906 tonnes, while production in the 2023–24 season was 25,230 tonnes.
Last year, cardamom prices maintained a positive trend throughout the season, averaging ₹2,470 per kg. Meanwhile, the average price in the 2023–24 season was ₹1,763 per kg,” Ms. Vishwanathan added. Climatologist Gopakumar Cholayil noted that the rainfall deficiency would negatively impact cardamom and other thermosensitive crops. “Any change in the normal weather pattern is first reflected in thermosensitive crops. Capsule setting occurs in plants with the support of a continuous monsoon, and when that cycle is disrupted, it negatively impacts production,” Mr. Cholayil said.
The BriefWire