Innovation Detail

Innovation Description

Mr. Rejimon Joseph and Mr. Sebastian Joseph from Idukki, Kerala had developed an improved and very popular variety of cardamom ‘Njallani’ (Green-Gold) Variety.
Crop: Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton (Small Cardamom)
Salient features: Very high nutrient absorption capacity owing to its high root cation exchange capacity, Hybrid vigour, high immunity power, fertilizer response, and high productivity, More number of Capsules (120-160), It can be harvested round the year, Higher yield: 1000 kg / hectare, Berries of this variety is three times larger than the local variety, Clonal propagation by vegetative method helps the farmers to get yield in the 2 years.
Genesis: Late Shri Sebastian Joseph was a marginal farmer owing just 1.5 acres of land in the Kattapana hills. He had studied only up to the fourth standard. With the help of his son Rejimon, Sebastian has developed a new variety of cardamom which heralded a revolution in the cardamom cultivation. The variety ‘Njallani’ was developed by selecting good berries and cross-pollinating these. This variety could be multiplied by clonal propagation method. Presently a vast area under cardamom cultivation is covered by this variety.
Harvesting Period: September-November