India's cardamom district, Idukki, is reeling under severe drought conditions, leaving farmers in the lurch.
The drought conditions prevailing in cardamom growing areas in Kerala said to have dried up plants in an estimated 15,000 hectares.
According to farmers in the district, the plantations having irrigation facilities have also been hit now as the water resources have dried up.The impact of high temperature on the plants, which were receiving irrigation till a few days ago is serious, Sabu Mathew, a cardamom farmer in Idukki district said.
He said 50 per cent of the total plantations were under irrigation and for the past 25 days, it could not be irrigated for want of water.
Most of the plants in the several cardamom plantations have dried up. The plants cannot withstand prolonged dry spells.
Idukki district used to get at least one shower every month during summer. But, from November there hasn't been any rain so far, said a Nedumkandam-based farmer, Jose K.
The current situation would result in an estimated drop of 25-30 per cent in output from that of last season estimated around 9,765