iGrain India - Thiruvananthapuram. Heavy rains in the recent days in southern states and especially in Kerala and Tamil Nadu (NS:TNNP) are expected to provide great relief to plantation crops.
Coconut, betel nut, tea, coffee and rubber along with spice crops are also included. Among the spice crops, especially small cardamom and black pepper crops are expected to benefit.
Due to lack of rain during March-April in Kerala, the growth of cardamom crop was blocked, but its condition will improve somewhat due to the rains in May.
This pre-monsoon rain will prove helpful for farmers in starting early sowing of turmeric and red chilli in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and other states of South India (Karnataka and Tamil Nadu).
The market price of both these spice crops is high, which can increase the enthusiasm and attraction of producers towards its sowing.
The Meteorological Department had said in April that the southwest monsoon may reach the southern coast of Kerala on May 31 this time. It still stands by its estimate.
There were apprehensions that the Ramal cyclonic storm would affect the formation and progress of the monsoon, but the Meteorological Department has dismissed it.
Harvesting of most orchard crops has already begun in Kerala, while the picking of small cardamom is likely to begin in late June or early July. Recent rains may bring some improvement in good quality.