Cardamom is a perennial crop, Queen Spices, cultivated in Western Ghats of India. It has more economic value and source of income earning. This paper reveals cost of production of cardamom per acre in Idukki District of Kerala. The data were collected through interview schedule from 350 planters in the size of 173 in small and 127 in large plantations. The cost was calculated year after year up to the mature cardamom plantation since initial year expenses vary from one to another. The interest on investment was calculated at 12 per cent and amortization on investment per annum was 8.33 per cent. Both fixed expenses like land, building and equipment and variables expenses such as cultivation cost as development cost were considered for the study. The total cultivation cost after amortization was Rs.1,15,290 and Rs.1,23,830 in small and large plantations. The cost of cultivation of one acre of mature cardamom plantation for the large planters was higher than that of small planters due to high cost involved in maintaining large plantations.
Volume 11 | 07-Special Issue
Pages: 626-630