Cardamom variety · Farmer selection
Elarajan
Also known as Elarajan; Elarajan cardamom
Idukki district, Kerala · K.J. Benny (farmer selection; evaluated by ICRI) · 2000s
Farmer selection recognised for uniform, extra-bold capsules with high yield potential. Evaluated for essential oil quality and aroma profile by research institutes.
Key facts
| Type | Farmer selection |
|---|---|
| Origin | Idukki district, Kerala |
| Breeder / source | K.J. Benny (farmer selection; evaluated by ICRI) |
| Year released | 2000s |
| Parentage | Vazhukka type farmer selection |
| Tolerance | Moderate disease tolerance; suited to high-altitude Vazhukka zones, 900–1200 m |
| Distinctive features | Vazhukka type, uniform capsules (~9 mm, 80–90% bold), 8.36% essential oil, excellent aroma |
| Grown in | Kerala (Idukki); 900–1200 m |
| Also known as | Elarajan; Elarajan cardamom |
Figures are indicative, compiled from public agricultural sources (ICAR institutes, State Agricultural Universities, the Spices Board and the National Innovation Foundation) and vary with soil, season and management. Confirm with your local package of practices.
Elarajan in detail
Farmer-selected Vazhukka cardamom from Idukki, chosen for uniform bold capsules and higher dry yields than local types.
Origin & story
K.J. Benny, a farmer from Idukki district in Kerala, selected and stabilized Elarajan (which he named to mean "king of cardamom") from the Vazhukka type, fixing its characteristics by 2007 after about five years of selection work. It received the 6th National Grassroots Innovation Award (2012) from India's National Innovation Foundation and was registered under the Plant Variety Protection and Farmers' Rights Authority (Registration No. REG/2012/141). It later spread beyond Kerala to growers in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, with over 60,000 suckers distributed.
How it grows
Vazhukka type with short plant height and bright green capsules. The stem is fibrous, which is described as giving it some resistance to stem borer. Matures about 80 days after flowering. High capsule production per panicle, up to 1,400 per panicle, with 23–26 seeds per capsule. Reported yields are roughly 12,500 kg of green capsules and 2,500 kg of dry capsules per hectare. Grown in the hill ranges of Kerala's Idukki district and adopted in similar growing areas of southern India.
Quality & character
Uniform bold capsules grading mostly 8–9 mm, with about 80–90% meeting the bold standard. Essential oil content around 6.7%. GC-MS profiling identified about 24 compounds, with major constituents being α-terpinyl acetate (~43%) and 1,8-cineole (~34%), along with α-terpineol and sabinene. Seeds per capsule: 23–26.
Why it matters to buyers
The high proportion of bold capsules (80–90% at 8–9 mm) suits exporters and processors targeting markets that reward size consistency and visual uniformity, and bold grading typically fetches a higher market price in cardamom trade. The higher dry yield per hectare helps farm returns. Registration under PPVFRA gives formal recognition of the breeder's selection work.
About cardamom
In Kerala's rolling spice gardens, cardamom isn't just one plant—it's three distinct botanical types, each with its own character. The Malabar type, with flowers drooping down like a skirt, thrives in the softer elevations of 600–1200 metres. Mysore stands tall and erect, reaching its best between 900–1200 metres on the wind-swept heights. And Vazhukka, a…
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