Spices Board launches online pooling system for cardamom

The Spices Board is set to implement an online pooling system for cardamom collected at depots operated by licensed cardamom auctioneers.

According to officials, the Board has mandated verification for all cardamom growers to ensure transparency. To facilitate a smooth rollout, all farmers in Kerala and Tamil Nadu must register their plantation details with the Spices Board.

Upon completing the registration, the Spices Board will issue a unique identification number to each registered grower. Once the online pooling system is active, only farmers holding this unique number will be eligible to pool cardamom at licensed auction centres. Officials stated that growers in Kerala can submit their plantation registration applications at local Spices Board offices. Meanwhile, farmers in Tamil Nadu can submit theirs at the regional office in Bodinayakannur or any other Spices Board office in the State. The application window is open from June 15 to September 30, 2026. Officials urged farmers to ensure their registration is completed within this timeframe.

Officials further noted that, in addition to individual growers, farmer producer organisations (FPOs), companies, societies, partnership firms, and joint ventures that own or manage cardamom plantations are also eligible to register.

According to officials, regulating cardamom re-pooling has been a long-standing demand of growers in the district. Farmers explained that some dealers buy cardamom on credit at auctions, re-pool the same stock in subsequent auctions, and pocket the profit. This continuous cycle artificially inflates production data, which in turn drives down cardamom prices.

Spices Board sources stated that the registration and Unique Identification Numbers will allow authorities to easily verify the identities of original farmers. “When the online pooling system is implemented, others will no longer be able to re-pool cardamom under the guise of actual farmers at auction centres,” said an official.

Earlier, the Vandanmedu Cardamom Growers Association, a producers’ collective, had approached the High Court seeking to halt the re-pooling of cardamom.

Officials added that plantation registration will provide the Spices Board with accurate data on cardamom-growing areas and actual production volumes. “Presently, such precise data is not available with the Spices Board,” said a source.