CHR Cardamom higher yields not for good: J Thomas

Last Updated : 22 June 2011 at 19:00 IST
KOCHI, INDIA (Commodity Online): The reported yield growth in cardamom in Cardamom Hill Reserve (CHR) at Idukki in Kerala certainly doesn’t bode well for the eco-system in the region and cannot be attributed as a positive impact of climate change, according to J Thomas, Director Research at Spices Board India and Director of Indian Cardamom Research Institute (ICRI).

An international journal recently published a study stating that climate change had led to higher yields in cardamom based on a study of 17 year data. Responding to this report, Prasada Rao, a veteran climate expert of Kerala Agriculture University told Commodity Online that the phenomenon is attributable to climate variability rather than climate change.

Veteran agriculture scientist J. Thomas who holds a different view on cardamom phenomenon said, “Whatever happened, it never happened for good...”

“Increase in yields cannot be taken as a positive impact of climate change. It is because you have varieties that have started responding to sunlight. Cardamom is a forest crop. It is grown under shades. More than 50% shade is optimum...but with the newer varieties responding to sunlight etc. they respond better when shades are more.

“Temperature is never advantageous...”, he said.

“It is revolutionary as far as production is concerned. It is not revolutionary as far as the total eco system is concerned.

It is a genetic evolution that has happened and it is manmade.” he said.

He also spoke of the Njallani variety that began a revolution in cardamom output.

But with the Njallani coming into picture, it started changing the eco system.

“Prior to Njallani we did not have much of a pest problem. Now we have pests. We never used to have much of a chemical application. Now there is an orientation to chemicals...”

But this development—a popular variety influencing immediate eco system and cultivation practises—is not restricted to cardamom or for that matter Njallni, he said. This holds good for all crops; he added.

As published in: http://www.commodityonline.com/news/CHR-Cardamom-higher-yields-not-for-good-J-Thomas-40144-3-1.html