Evaluation of Schemes on Export Oriented Research during XII

Plan undertaken by
Spices Board of India,
Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India

Executive Summary

Indian Cardamom Research Institute (ICRI) was established in 1978

as the research wing of the erstwhile Spice Board at Myladumpara (Kerala)
to undertake basic and applied research on small Cardamom. To address
location specific problems to small Cardamom, the Regional Research
Station was also set up at Saklespur in Hassan District of Karnataka during
1980. To undertake research on Large Cardamom which is one of the most
important cash crops of Sikkim state and Darjeeling District of West
Bengal, the ICRI, Regional Research Station was established during 1981
at Gangtok, Sikkim. The main objective of Research at the Indian
Cardamom Research Institute is for increasing the productivity of
cardamom (both small & large) which would thereby help in producing
adequate surplus for meeting the export demand thus enhancing the net
income of spice farmers.
The Major areas of Research and Extension activities such as farm
advisory services on Integrated Pest Management, soil test based fertilizer
recommendations, training on spices production technology and spice
clinics, supply of small and large cardamom planting materials are the
major activities undertaken by the research department. In addition, ICRI
has been undertaking the Mass multiplication of bioagents such as
Trichoderma harzianum, Pseudomonas fluorescens. Beauveria bassiana
and Lecanicillium lecanii for distribution to planters. These bioagents are
being recommended by ICRI and are used by the planters for controlling
the various types of fungal diseases in cardamom, vanilla, ginger and
black pepper. In this regard an attempt to undertake a preliminary
evaluation of research undertaken by Indian Cardamom Research Institute
(ICRI) under the Spices Board, on cardamom.
 With a view of the effectiveness of research in terms of its outcomes
as perceived by the growers (the beneficiaries of the research output),
IIPM research team organised focus group discussion with 100 growers at
ICRI, Myladumpara and Sakleshpur for small cardamom and Gangtok for
large cardamom with respect to export oriented research activities on
cardamom. In addition, we had an individual discussion with leading
cardamom growing farmers in the area, scientists at ICRI and Regional
stations and also had a telephonic conversation with a number of growers
who have been associated with various programmes of ICRI. The study
comes up with a few recommendations and is presented below;

It is to be noted that ICRI has gained research expertise in a single

domain crop. However, more emphasis on R&D should be given in
the area of irrigation, mechanisation and to generate grants to
undertake multi-dimensional and interdisciplinary research within
the frame work of ICRI.

While reviewing different extension activities of ICRI, most of the

growers expressed their desire on the functioning of spice clinic
training programmes at scale of highly successful and delighted
that the scheme should be continued. In addition, production and
distribution of bio-agents and inputs supply components were
cited with good opinion in general and small growers insisted that
inputs to be given for free of cost or at the minimum price. More
interestingly Cardamom growers, requested felt the benefit of ICRI
training and sought frequent training programs at least once in a
year particularly on production and post harvest aspects of in
cardamom.

From the long term sustainable development perspective, ICRI

may focus on multi-commodity research activities than a single
focused domain research on a specific crop. It was opined that
such mono-crop with the sole objective of enhancing productivity
alone might do more harm to the institutional sustainability.
 Hence, it is important that the issue of overall development of
region in general and sustainable development in particular, has
to be integrated with cardamom research and development
scenario.

Research is mainly focused on marginal and low production regions

of small cardamom growing tracts of Kerala and Karnataka as well as large
cardamom growing regions of North East States and is mostly farmer
participatory programmes. Major Areas of Research are Crop
Improvement, Biotechnology, Crop Production, Crop Protection, Post
Harvest Technology & Organic Farming. Farmer participatory research and
technology evaluation are the major activities undertaken by the research
department. Ecosystem conservation & protection programmes cover
Germplasm conservation, Pest and diseases surveillance, Screening of
germplasm for pests and disease, Weather monitoring & crop impact
studies, Monitoring of pesticide residues and Soil health analysis. Apart
from these, sustainable production technologies are also being undertaken
for Varietal Development, Integrated Pest and Disease management as
well as Integrated Nutrient Management. In addition to these, several
externally funded multi institutional and National projects are ongoing in
most of the Divisions.
Besides these, ICRI has a National Conservatory of Cardamom Germplasm
at Myladumpara which maintains around 563 cardamom accessions and
twelve allied genera from varied agro-climatic zones. Similarly, ICRI RRS
at Saklespur (275) and RRS at Gangtok maintain germplasm repositories
of small cardamom & large cardamom respectively.