Govt. to boost minor export crops

The Government has decided to give prominence to cardamom cultivation along with several other selected export cultivations identified as export agricultural products. 

The cardamom production of 48,000 kg reported in 2010 has been developed to produce 91,000 kg in 2015 as part of this program and several steps have been taken to support the cultivators.  

Some of the steps the Government has taken include providing healthy plants to cultivators under the 50% investment assistance scheme by the Department of Export Agriculture, ensuring proper agricultural practices and training free of charge, implementing pest and disease control action and conducting continual cardamom development research.

Cardamom, known as the ‘Queen of Spices’, is a perennial herbaceous plant. Dried fruit or the cardamom capsule is the commodity of trade. Cardamom is mainly used in the food industry as a flavouring agent in curry or meat dishes, sweets, confectioners, in bakery products and as an ingredient of curry (masala) powder. 

Cardamom oil is used for flavouring of beverages and drinks such as coffee and tea. It is also used in Ayurveda and Chinese medicine as a powerful aromatic, stimulant, carminative, stomachic and diuretic. (AH)