Indian Spices Board encourages cardamom output in Sikkim

THE Indian Spices Board has instituted a cash award for cardamom producers from this year with a view to encourage competition among farmers for an increase in productivity of the cash crop in Sikkim.

The first prize carries Rs100,000 ($2,087) and a citation, while the second prize, which has been reserved for a female farmer, has a cash component of Rs25,000, as well as a citation.

Under the process devised for selection of the eligible candidates for the awards, nominations will be collected by the local spices board and an expert committee will visit the cardamom fields from September 15 onwards.

This team will make a spot verification of the claims made over the production of the crop. A farmer must have a minimum of 0.4 hectares of land for cultivation of cardamom and the crop should be free from pest and disease, with exceptionally high yield for consideration for the award, the official release added.