Spices Board aid for cardamom replantation

Kochi, July 16 (UNI) The Spices Board today announced financial support for replantation of cardamom in the states of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

The replantation support would be extended in two annual instalments, a Board release said here.

Cardamom growers owning upto four hectares in Kerala and Tamil Nadu would get Rs 17,780 as first instalment and Rs 17,036 as second instalment.

Farmers owning between four to eight hectares would get Rs 13,470 as first instalment and Rs 12,950 as the second instalment.

In Karnataka, the growers owning upto four hectares would get Rs 14,950 as first instalment and Rs 11,969 as the second instalment.

Those owning between four and eight hectares would get Rs 9,066 as second instalment.

For rejuvenation, the Board would disburse Rs 13,300 per hectares as single instalment to cardamom growers in Kerala and Tamil Nadu owning upto four hectares.

The Board also announced financial aid for setting up irrigation facilities, soil conservation and curing of cardamom.

It also invited applications for educational stipend for the children of cardamom plantation workers to pursue post-SSLC studies.

Aid would also be given to medical and educational institutions in cardamom areas, it said.

The Board also announced that STCL (former Spices Trading Corporation Linited) would procure vanilla beans directly from farmers this year.

UNI ARC GM 1832