MADIKERI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has introduced two new cardamom varieties developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) at Appangala in Kodagu. The new varieties, IISR Manushree and IISR Kaveri, received approval from the central sub-committee on crop standards.
Cardamom, once a major revenue crop for farmers in Sakleshpur, Kodagu, and Chickmagalur, suffered a decline in the 1980s due to widespread disease, leading many plantations to switch to coffee. Despite this, cardamom remains a lucrative crop. ICAR-IISR Kozhikode, with its regional station at Appangala, has been at the forefront of developing new varieties to rejuvenate cardamom cultivation.
The IISR Manushree variety, developed through clonal selection, is noted for its stability, high yield, and tolerance to moisture stress, producing an average of 550 kg of dry capsules per hectare under irrigation and 8.84% under moisture stress. The IISR Kaveri variety is a compact flowering type with bold capsules, with 70% of capsules measuring over 8 mm. It yields an average of 482 kg per hectare under irrigation and 308 kg under moisture stress, making it well-suited for Karnataka’s conditions.
Dr. SJ Ankegowda, Principal Scientist and Head of ICAR-IISR, highlighted the importance of these drought-tolerant varieties as they address soil moisture challenges and cater to market preferences for green, bold capsules. The introduction of these varieties aims to boost cardamom production and appeal to a new generation of farmers.
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