Cardamom auctions resume

KOCHI: The auctions of small cardamom, which remained suspended for nearly a month on account of the non-participation of the cardamom dealers in protest against the move to raise auction bidding prices, resumed today. The auction that took place in the spice park of the Spices Board in Puttady in Kerala, had fairly good participation of cardamom dealers from Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

The total recorded sales during the day touched 36 tonnes, according to a spokesman of the Spices Board. The auctions were held based on the newly fixed biddling price of Rs 2 per kg as announced by the Spices Board. The board had initially decided to increased the bidding rate from 50 paise to Rs 5, a move which was opposed by the majority of dealers.

A total of 24 dealers participated in the morning auction which recorded a maximum price of Rs 1020 per kg and a minimum price of Rs 473. The auction recorded an average price of Rs 678.50 per kg. The afternoon session witnessed participation of 30 dealers and recorded a maximum price of Rs 906 oer kg and a minimum price of Rs 366 per kg. Average price recorded was Rs 673.78.

Kerala State Cooperative Marketing Federation ( Marketfed) participated in the auction. The board expects more government agencies to participate in the auctions in the coming months.