3 months ago
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Extreme somesthesia fluctuations and a prolonged adust spell successful Idukki’s cardamom loop are raising concerns among growers, who fearfulness a repetition of the devastating 2024 drought. Farmers accidental daytime temperatures successful plantations touched 29°C by the 2nd week of February — unusually precocious for this clip of the year.
Muthusamy Murugan, erstwhile caput idiosyncratic astatine the Cardamom Research Station of Kerala Agricultural University successful Pampadumpara, described the inclination arsenic alarming. He said this February ranks arsenic the 3rd hottest successful the past 25 years. With temperatures already astatine 29°C successful cardamom-growing areas, helium warned that vigor levels could emergence further successful the coming days.
Farmers should prioritise irrigation and mulching to clasp ungraded moisture astir works roots, helium advised. Plantations located adjacent forested areas specified arsenic the Periyar Tiger Reserve, Mathikettan Shola National Park and Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary whitethorn payment from cooler microclimates that assistance crops withstand vigor stress.
Stany Pothen, a planter and subordinate of the Kerala Plantation Business Advisory Committee, said temperatures connected his Vellaramkunnu property reached 29°C connected February 14. Anticipating adust conditions, helium began irrigating successful January and has completed 5 cycles truthful far. “We are witnessing utmost acold successful the mornings and aggravated vigor during the day. This signifier is highly unfavourable for cardamom,” helium said.
Following 2024’s drought, growers had hoped for a beardown 2026–27 play opening successful July. However, if existent conditions persist, yields could endure again.
Agricultural advisor Prince Mathew said his squad has been advising irrigation and mulching since January. For farms with constricted water, they urge spraying potassium silicate to trim evaporation and amended moisture retention.
Climatologist Gopakumar Cholayil cautioned that shifting clime patterns disproportionately impact thermosensitive crops similar cardamom, starring to income losses.
High-altitude regions specified arsenic Munnar and Thekkady person recorded greeting frost and crisp midday heat. Data from the United Planters’ Association of Southern India Tea Research Foundation showed temperatures dipping to 4°C successful Silent Valley and Devikulam, portion daytime highs reached 27°C successful Sevenmallay and Letchmi.
