Heavy pesticide use puts Kerala's cardamom ecosystem under pressure

Warming temperatures now keep Kerala's cardamom plants flowering and fruiting almost year-round, giving pests a continuous feast. Former Cardamom Research Station head scientist Muthusamy Murugan says farmers now apply 18 to 24 spray rounds a year, often mixing several products into single-tank cocktails that experts warn can weaken plants. He also cautioned about cheap, unlabelled pesticides arriving from neighbouring states.