Global pepper output may remain stable

The black pepper production is expected to remain stable this season in major producing countries. While India is expected to produce 48,000-50,000 tonnes of the commodity, or the same as last year, the latest crop estimates from Vietnam indicate that the country could produce 100,000 tonnes of black pepper in the ongoing season.

The plucking of pepper vines has already started in Vietnam, and processing and exports are expected to begin by the end of this month.

Meanwhile, harvesting is in full swing in the pepper growing areas of Kerala and the fresh crop is expected to hit the markets soon. The season in Karnataka will commence by the middle of February.

According to a team of experts, who visited Vietnam recently, the production is expected to rise in areas such as Dak Lak, Chu Se, Gia Lai and Dak Nong this season, against the earlier estimates.

Last year, these pepper growing areas had a poor crop, affecting the overall production in the country to a large extend. Growers in these areas are optimistic of increasing the production by 2 to 3 times, according to the team.

Provinces such as Vung tau and Dong Nai could also record a marginal increase in production. But the crop from this region will be delayed as harvesting gets into full swing only by the first half of February.

The output could be slightly lower in areas such as Binh Phuoc and Loc Ninh, the largest growing areas of the country, where plucking has started in right earnest.

Following the higher average rates the commodity fetched during the 2007 season, the acreage under black pepper has also risen by 8-10 per cent in the current season. This indicates a marginal increase in production. During the last season, Vietnam produced more than 90,000 tonnes against the earlier estimate of 80,000 tonnes.

The country exported 85,000 tonnes in 2007, and the carry over stock is estimated at 4000 tonnes this year. Vietnam's production stood at 120,000 tonnes during the 2006 season, the highest since the country started active cultivation of black pepper in the early 90s.