From green gold to growing crisis: Kerala's cardamom farms feel the heat

In the mist-covered hills of Kerala’s Idukki district, cardamom—popularly known as “green gold"—is facing one of its toughest seasons in recent years. Climate change and unpredictable weather patterns have emerged as major challenges for cardamom cultivation, affecting both production and crop quality.

Farmers say the absence of timely summer rains during March and April has significantly impacted the harvest. Smaller cardamom pods and fading colour are raising concerns over market value and overall earnings.

According to growers, the first harvest in June produced barely a quarter of the usual output seen in previous years. For small-scale farmers already struggling with debt and rising cultivation costs, lower production has overshadowed any possible benefit from higher market prices.