Horticulture mission's project to boost pepper production

Under the scheme, 12.8 mn pepper planting materials were produced and supplied to farmers

Black pepper plantations with an area of 21,396 hectares has been replanted in Idukki district of Kerala under the project 'On Pepper Production' funded through the National Horticulture Mission (NHM), according to the Spices Board.

In a release, the board said it was expected to get an additional yield of 21,000 tonne black pepper from this project, when it starts full yielding, during 2016-17. The project, completed in April, 2014, involved a total expenditure of Rs 45.85 crore.

Under the scheme, 12.8 million pepper planting materials were produced and supplied to farmers. The board supplied 500,000 improved high-yielding varieties of pepper cuttings viz, Panniyur-1 and Karimunda, to 5,500 farmers. It also set up 655 vermicompost units for promoting organic farming in pepper.

Among other initiatives, integrated pest and disease management practices were adopted in 28,299 ha, and a pepper processing plant had been installed at Spices Park, Puttady, with facilities like pre-cleaner, grader, grinder, steam steriliser & packaging. Godowns having 80 tonne capacity have also been developed among others.

The project was sanctioned for five years from 2008-09 till 2012-13 with a financial assistance of Rs 120 crore. The government initiated this project as the production and productivity of pepper had dropped drastically during the last 5-10 years due to aging of pepper vines. India's production dropped roughly 40 per cent during the period, from 60,000 tonnes to 40,000 tonnes.

Incidentally, Kerala was down to the second spot in production after Karnataka, a couple of years ago. This paved the way for large scale import to the country and India became a net importer during 2012-13. The growing dependence on imported pepper also affected manufacturers of value-added products like Oleoresin and spice oils.

Though the price of pepper increased substantially this year, farmers could not benefit owing to a steep decline in production. In Idukki district, the production registered a decline of around 60 per cent during the last couple of years.