Tribal Farmers of ASR District Exploring Cultivation Of Cardamom

Visakhapatnam: Farmers belonging to tribal communities, especially the villages of Konavanchula and Gondipakalu villages in the Chintapal map of the Alluri Sitharama Region, are trying to plant cardamom.

This spice typically grows in more wet and colder areas. Knowing this, Gondipakalu, a remarkable farmer of the region, told Gudepu Venugopal Raju Deccan Chronicle from the village of Yerravaram in Panchayat: “Two years ago, I got three kakuf plants from a friend in Kondavanchula. Kakule said Venugopal Raju.

Cardama requires shade and regular irrigation, especially in hot weather. It develops under conditions similar to peppers. Venugopal believes that shoots in cardamom plants can be used to spread more plants and gradually expands the area under planting.

Interestingly, for the first time in this region, the planting of cardamom is being tried. About 20 years ago, scientists at the Garden Plants Research Station in Chintapalli examined the potential in tribal areas. They grew up for several years to evaluate their viability.

Cetti Bindu, the President of the Research Station, said, “Cardule needs over 2,000 to 2,200 mm heavy shade and high rainfall. Small backyard can grow in the installations. However, the climate cannot be foreseen today, large -scale agriculture may not be successful”.

In fact, Venugopal participated in a training program at the research station years ago. Despite the observation of the President of the Research Station, he is willing to discover the future of the tribal areas.

Venugopal, “Last year my plants began to carry fruit. This season, beyond my expectations, yield is close to a kilogram. I encourage more farmers to be included, so that production and marketing becomes easier. For now, we are just trying,” he said.