March 22: Scientists at the Indian Cardamom Research Institute, Idukki, have claimed a major breakthrough in developing three hybrid varieties of cardamom which promise to increase output many times over. The research institute, part of the Spices Board efforts to increase cardamom output, is still in the hunt for new varieties of cardamom.The three new varieties--MCH-10, MHC-13 and MHC-18--were developed by the crop improvement division of the institute and are currently on farm trials at various places in the cardamom belt, sources in the institute said. They said the new varieties offered not only higher productivity but also better resistance to diseases.
The MHC-10 variety of hybrid cardamom is characterised by angular bold and green capsules. They have an essential oil content of 6.4 per cent and can yield up to 610 kg per hectare. Forty-one per cent of MHC-10 capsules will grow to the 7 mm category. They are recommended for cultivation in the Idukki, Nelliampathy and Nilgiri hills.
The MHC-13variety is characterised by its 7 mm capsules. They may even grow slightly longer and have an essential oil content of 7.2 per cent. Under good management, MCH-13 can yield up to 600 kg per hectare. Results of preliminary studies say this variety is suited to the Nelliampathy and Idukki hills in Kerala.
The MHC-18 variety also produces angular bold capsules of which more than 50 per cent will come under the 7 mm and bigger size category. It can yield up to 470 kg per hectare and the capsules have an essential oil content of 6.8 per cent.
According to research scientists, the average productivity of these varieties is four times higher than the current cardamom varieties like ICR-1, 2 and 3 used in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Another variety, christened `Kanni Elam', is cultivated in the Thodupuzha area near Kochi.
However, in the last five years, the Njallani variety of cardamom has earned more popularity than any other variety in Kerala. Developed by a planter in the Vandanmedu area,Njallani suits the conditions in the Vandanmedu and surrounding hills. According to Spices Board sources, Njallani is a high yield variety, and this explains its popularity.
Besides these, the Kerala Agriculture University had released the PV-1 variety of cardamom in the early 1990s. The Indian Institute of Spices Research, Kozhikode, had released the CCS-1 variety at about the same time. Besides, the Medigere-1 and 2 varieties were released by the University for Agriculture Sciences, Bangalore, early this decade. However, the current crop of hybrids promises a break with the past with their promise of a four times higher yield per hectare. According to Spices Board sources, Indian cardamom does not come cheap because of the low productivity. While the cardamom varieties in Guatemala yield about 300 kg per hectare, their Indian counterparts produce as little as 120 kg per hectare, Spices Board sources added.
According to the complete enumeration done by the Spices Board in 1990, there is a total of 81,113hectares of land under cardamom cultivation in the country. Of this, Kerala accounts for 44,008 hectares, Karnataka 30,930 hectares and Tamil Nadu 6,175 hecatres.
The Spices Board estimates say that the country will have a production of 5,560 tonnes of big cardamom this year. This is a slight improvement from last year's production of 5,150 tonnes. Nearly 8,000 tonnes of small cardamom will be produced this year. Last year the production was 6,625 tonnes.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
