While prices have registered a nearly 25 per cent rise compared with average prices last season, the quantity sold has almost doubled since the beginning of the season, reports from licensed cardamom auctioneers said.

Mumbai auctions have continued to fetch higher prices, with average rice realisation for the 3020 kg sold during the October five auctions being Rs 474.73 a kg.

Auctions at the traditional centres in south have also fetched better prices, though it has been low in Karnataka centres of Saklaspur and Sirsi.

In all 436 tonnes of cardamon has been sold since the season beginning, against 233 tonnes sold during the corresponding period last season.

Average price realisation for the commodity for the season until now has been Rs 404.31 per kg against Rs 301.27 a kg in the corresponding periodlast year.

While average price realisation at Kumily centre in Kerala was Rs 415.21 a kg, Vandenmettu auctions fetched Rs 435.55 a kg.

Last year, auctions did not take place in these centres in view of problems with traders.

At Bodinayakanaur, Tamil Nadu, October seven auctions fetched an average price of Rs 397.09 a kg, while on October eight, the realisation was Rs 403.60. This was against Rs 276.93 a kg during the corresponding period last year.

While Saklaspur auctions fetched Rs 309.85 a kg against Rs 323 a kg last year, at Sirsi, the average price realisation was Rs 236 against Rs 283 last year.

Of the 436 tonnes sold so far this season, Kerala centres have accounted for 207 tonnes, followed by Tamil Nadu at 175 tonnes.

In the wholesale market, prices for ageb ranged between Rs 520-530 a kg in Bodinayakanur, while at Virudhunagar, also in Tamil Nadu, it ranged at Rs 450-470 a kg. This was against Rs 440-450 at Bodinayakanur and Rs 380-400 in Virudhunagar respectively last year.

AtMangalore, Coorg green CGEB was quoted at Rs 430-550 a kg against Rs 300-330 during similar period last year.

Large cardamom at the same time was quoted at Rs 8300-8500 a quintal in mumbai and Rs 7500-10,200 a quintal in New Delhi.