Challenges of climate change on spice crops in Kerala

Abstract

Kerala is blessed with a neutral atmosphere. The State has usually two rainy seasons viz. the Southwest monsoon that attains near the end of May or early June, which is known as edavapathi and Northeast season which hits the State during mid-October which is known as thulam. The monsoon rains was a part of the State every year, however, the Southwest season of 2018 had a different impact as the monsoon caused in a disastrous flood. The floods of Southwest season can be comprehended as an evident example of global climate change impact with very heavy rainfall in a short span of time as indicated and forecast by the Fifth Assessment Report published by the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change in 2014(IPCC).The unprecedented heavy rains, storms and floods have affected exorbitant losses to the agriculture sector. Kerala cultivates around 1, 62,660 ha of spice crops across the state with a production of 1,40,000 tonnes. Nearly 62 per cent of the total area covered by Idukki and Wayanad together. Black pepper, cardamom, nutmeg, ginger, turmeric and clove were the major crops considered in the study which contribute additional 90 per cent of the total spice crops produced in the state