The story
The Cardamom Hills of Idukki have grown wild and cultivated cardamom for centuries under the shade of forest trees. Planters and small farmers expanded cultivation in the twentieth century, and the crop is now the backbone of the high-range economy. Cardamom is sold through Spices Board e-auctions at Puttady in Kerala and Bodinayakanur in Tamil Nadu. It was historically shipped from Alleppey, which gives the GI its name.
In numbers
The Spices Board's auction centres at Bodinayakanur (Tamil Nadu) and Puttady (Kerala) started e-auctions in 2007, replacing outcry auctions, and moved to cloud-based live e-auctions in 2021.
E-auction — Spices Board IndiaAlleppey Green Cardamom is a registered GI (application 72, certificate 59) covering Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
GI Registry — Alleppey Green Cardamom, application 72
GI tag
- Alleppey Green CardamomApplication no. GI Application No. 72 (Certificate No. 59)GI Registry, Intellectual Property India — application 72
Ways in for a newcomer
- Cardamom drying (curing) and grading services
- Branded cardamom packs and cardamom powder
- Plantation tourism and homestays in the high ranges
- Agri-input and drip-irrigation supply to planters
Problems the cluster faces
- Drought and heat waves hurt yields
- Pesticide-residue limits for exports
- Price swings at auctions
- Labour shortage on estates
Businesses to start here
Green Cardamom Powder →Masala / Spice Grinding Unit →Black Pepper Cleaning & Grinding Unit →