Silvester D’Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Aug 31: A farmer of Ulloor 74 village near Siddapura has succeeded in cultivation of cardamom using a new methodology.

Girish Poojary, a resident of Karemakki, began cultivating cardamom in between areca plantations and has earned well. He has spread the cultivation of cardamom to more than half an acre and plans to extend it to one acre.

Cow dung can be used as manure in cultivation of the crop for which 20% sunshine is sufficient. The saplings should be planted one-and-a-half feet deep and a one feet wide pit. The crop does require minimal maintenance. The cultivation takes two years and a little bit of maintenance is required during the first year. A farmer enjoys the yield of the crop after two years.

Cardamom is grown in empty spaces available between the trees and the crop does not need extra space. Cardamom enjoys a good market in India and overseas. Raw cardamom fetches a price of Rs 900 to 1,000 a kilo while dry cardamom is priced between Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000 a quintal. A farmer earns an income of up to Rs 1 lac a year per acre.