The state government has sanctioned Rs 10 crore to the Agriculture Department to extend financial assistance to the farmers whose cardamom plantations were affected by severe drought in 2024. 

The disaster management department has sanctioned the amount based on a letter from the Director of Agriculture. In a letter sent in June 2024, the Director informed that due to severe heat, akin to a drought-like situation, during the months of February, March, April, and the first week of May 2024, cardamom plantations in Idukki district were badly affected resulting in almost complete crop loss. Nearly 15,731 hectares of cardamom cultivation are reported to have been completely destroyed, according to the Agriculture Department.

The state executive committee meeting held in August 2024, agreed in principle to provide a one-time assistance of Rs.10 crore from the SDMF(state disaster management fund) for the rejuvenation of cardamom cultivation in Idukki district after plans detailing the strategies and guidelines for assisting the sector are in place.

The Director of agriculture then submitted a revised proposal and the beneficiary lists. It has been directed that the Director of Agriculture has to certify that the suckers distributed are hardy and heat-resistant varieties, and a utilisation certificate has to be submitted to the Disaster management department. Kattapana, the major hub of cardamom cultivation in Idukki, went without showers for around 140 days since the first week of January in 2024, causing extensive damage to cardamon farmers.