Cardamom
|
Cardamom is one of the important spices used to flavor curries, baked
products and in some countries beverages such as tea and coffee. It is also used
as a raw material in medicinal products and in cardamom oil for manufacturing of
perfumes The major cardamom producing countries in the world are Guatemala,
India and Tanzania. There has also been good output in El Salvador, Vietnam.
Laos, Cambodia and Papua New Guinea. Since Guatemala is the world's largest
cardamom producer and exporter, the size of its crop is pivotal in determining
the international prices.
Cardamom Extent
According to the Census of Agriculture 2002, the reported cardamom extent has
been 2,884 hectares. Cardamom is extensively grown in the mountainous ranges in
“Nuckles” in Matale district and “ Dumbara Valley” in Kandy district. Out of the
total extent of 2,884 hectares, 1,815 hectares or about 63% is in Matale and
Kandy districts. Another 26 % of the extent is cultivated in Kegalle and
Ratnapura districts Although the tenancy was not determined at the Census, it is
reliably understood that cardamom is substantially cultivated in encroachments
in those districts..
Cardamom requires a cool climate and an annual rainfall of over 1500 mm.
Out of the total extent of 2,884 hectares , 2,463 hectares or about 85.4%
recorded under estate category.
Extent of Cardamom under Estates by District – 2002
|
District |
Extent (Hc.) |
|
Kandy |
525
|
|
Matale |
1,092
|
|
N'Elliya |
122
|
|
Kegalle |
391
|
|
Ratnapura |
295
|
|
Badulla |
6
|
|
Monaragala |
-
|
|
Colombo |
-
|
|
Kalutara |
-
|
|
Gampaha |
-
|
|
Galle |
-
|
|
Matara |
32
|
|
Hambantota |
-
|
|
Kurunegala
|
-
|
|
Total
|
2,463
|
Source: Census of Agriculture 2002
Production
Cardamom Production Estimates- 2002-2006
| Year |
Production (mt) |
| 2002 |
64 |
| 2003 |
65 |
| 2004 |
74 |
| 2005 |
81 |
| 2006 |
80 |
Cardamom Exports.
| YEAR |
EXPORT |
| Volume (mt) |
Value (Rs.mn.) |
| 1973 – 1982 ( Mean ) |
185.5 |
29.7 |
| 1983 – 1992 ( Mean ) |
127.8 |
35.2 |
| 1993 – 2002 ( Mean ) |
12.1 |
7.9 |
| 2003 |
4.0 |
8.2 |
| 2004 |
4.4 |
5.4 |
| 2005 |
10.7 |
13.5 |
| 2006 |
5.9 |
16.5 |
Source: Sri Lanka Customs
Cardamom Export Trend -1990-2006
According to the above Graph, cardamom export performance growth will be
negative next five years ( 2007-2011)
Exports of Cardamom by Country of Destination
|
Country |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
|
|
Kg |
Kg |
Kg |
Kg |
Kg |
Kg |
Kg |
|
Australia |
317 |
135 |
426 |
962 |
434 |
442 |
470 |
|
Canada |
322 |
320 |
100 |
488 |
228 |
349 |
510 |
|
France |
375 |
352 |
64 |
76 |
284 |
708 |
339 |
|
Italy |
186 |
1 |
363 |
780 |
84 |
443 |
202 |
|
Japan |
40 |
38 |
17 |
14 |
87 |
482 |
61 |
|
Jordan |
4049 |
170 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Maldives |
449 |
196 |
76 |
361 |
294 |
1101 |
330 |
|
Netherlands |
125 |
34 |
62 |
10 |
20 |
4050 |
100 |
|
Norway |
120 |
67 |
70 |
66 |
137 |
920 |
43 |
|
Sweden |
0 |
519 |
600 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
USA |
24 |
43 |
311 |
18 |
820 |
965 |
2 |
|
UK |
206 |
90 |
|
82 |
813 |
|
2206 |
|
Other |
2087 |
835 |
711 |
1095 |
1193 |
1870 |
1637 |
|
Total |
8300 |
2800 |
2800 |
3952 |
4394 |
11330 |
5900 |
Source: Sri Lanka Customs
Annual Average Farm Gate, Auction & International Prices of Cardamom
1995-2006
|
Year |
Farm Gate |
International |
Auction |
|
|
Price Rs/kg |
Growth Rate Pt. to Pt. |
Price Rs/kg |
Growth Rate Pt. to Pt. |
Price Rs/kg |
Growth Rate Pt. to Pt. |
|
|
|
1995 |
337.39 |
|
615.22 |
|
398.17 |
|
|
|
1996 |
383.26 |
13.6 |
602.87 |
-2.0 |
474.59 |
19.2 |
|
|
1997 |
399.09 |
4.1 |
528.80 |
-12.3 |
471.68 |
-0.6 |
|
|
1998 |
480.59 |
20.4 |
612.31 |
15.8 |
558.60 |
18.4 |
|
|
1999 |
964.09 |
100.6 |
1055.54 |
72.4 |
1099.38 |
96.8 |
|
|
2000 |
1216.97 |
26.2 |
1317.90 |
24.9 |
1258.46 |
14.5 |
|
|
2001 |
1447.73 |
19.0 |
1352.20 |
2.6 |
1530.10 |
21.6 |
|
|
2002 |
1252.29 |
-13.5 |
1318.68 |
-2.5 |
1414.13 |
-7.6 |
|
|
2003 |
875.89 |
-30.1 |
796.47 |
-39.6 |
1017.34 |
-28.1 |
|
|
2004 |
682.44 |
-22.1 |
791.82 |
-0.6 |
813.45 |
-20.0 |
|
|
2005 |
744.15 |
9.0 |
652.02 |
-17.7 |
828.52 |
1.9 |
|
|
2006 |
716.92 |
-3.7 |
671.15 |
2.9 |
920.07 |
11.0 |
|
|
Source: DEA |
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