~ 17 ~ International Journal of Herbal Medicine 2020; 8(3): 17-19 E-ISSN: 2321-2187 P-ISSN: 2394-0514 www.florajournal.com IJHM 2020; 8(3): 17-19 Received: 07-03-2020 Accepted: 09-04-2020 Puthuma Joy Assistant Professor, Department of Economics Mar Athanasius College, Kothamangalam Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam Ernakulum District, Kerala, India Corresponding Author: Puthuma Joy Assistant Professor, Department of Economics Mar Athanasius College, Kothamangalam Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam Ernakulum District, Kerala, India Challenges of climate change on spice crops in Kerala Puthuma Joy 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. Keywords: Edavapathi, thulam, gobal climate change, spices, agriculture 1. Introduction Agriculture is a gamble with the monsoons. About 60% of India’s farms depend on rains for their existence, so the monsoons are indeed essential to India’s agriculture, which accounts for a sixth of the country’s economic output. Indian spices have been one of the prime sources of the fabulous wealth and prosperity of the Malabar Coast of India. Fortune seekers and Invaders by overcoming the nature's barriers travel to India with the main object of capturing Spice trade. Then Indian spices travel to Far and wide to traditional destinations to prepare food, beverages and to beautify their women of many countries. Climate is the primary determinant of spice production in India. India has a well-known reputation as a Land of Spices from time immemorial explorers and foreign Invaders from European countries for attractive mainly by the spices of India [1] . Spices are cultivated in varied agro-climatic regions from tropical to temperate. India is blessed with different climatic situations and every state in India promotes one or the other spices and production ability of the state vary. Most of the tree spices such as clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, curry leaf and vanilla are cultivated in and around Western Ghat region; seed spices are concentrated in Western India; chilli, ginger, turmeric and coriander are cultivated throughout India, almost in all the states; large cardamom is confined to Eastern Himalayas; whereas, saffron grows in Jammu and Kashmir and parts of Himachal Pradesh. Some spices needexact ecological niche and others have wider flexibility. The lion share of spices production of states to all India production is high in Rajasthan (17.1), Andhra Pradesh (13.5%), Madhya Pradesh (13.3%), Gujarat (10.7%) and Telangana (9.7%). More than 50 spices are cultivated in India, we have major contribution towards area and production only for around 20 spices. Spices share 14.8% in area and 2.7% in production of aggregate horticultural crops in India. The global demand for a variability of spices has sustained to rise in the past few years due to the vast increase in the consumption of convenience foods, snacks and confectionary. The expanded market for processed and ready-to-eat food foodstuffs has also had enormous positive influence on the overall world-wide consumption of a variability of spice 1.1 Statement of the problem Spices are cultivated in different agro-climatic regions from tropical to temperate. Climate change is going to affect major spice crops like Black pepper, Cardamom, Nutmeg, Clove, Ginger, and Turmeric in India. Climate is the least manageable of all resources. 1.2 Objectives of the study 1. To analyse district wise agriculture damage during the year 2018-2019. 2. To identify the consequences of flood on spice crops in that particular year.