(November 10) – 2015/2016 crop production in Kerala and Karnataka is expected to fall, pepper farmers and traders buy and say Business Line.
Indian pepper production in the new crop is expected to decrease by 30-40% compared to 70,000 tons collected last year due to erratic weather, according to estimates by farmers and agents. Harvesting of 2015/2016 crop is expected to begin from next month.
The little rainfall during this year's rainy season has affected yields in the main pepper plantations in Sakleshpur, Chikmagaluru, Hassan and Coorg, pepper farmers in Karnataka state told Business Line so.
Sunil Kumar, a pepper farmer, said that less than 10% of the state's area could have a good crop, and therefore, Karnataka's pepper production is expected to decrease by 35%. The weight of pepper grown in this state decreased by 20% compared to planting elsewhere. Besides, the productivity in the old pepper trees is also very low, he added.
Kerala pepper
Meanwhile, in Idukki, the main pepper growing district of Kerala state, production can be reduced by about 20% due to unfavorable weather. The plant has very few cotton strings and the number of seeds on the string is very sparse, a pepper farmer in Kumily region, commented.
According to Hemant Kishore, a trader who visited pepper farms in Idukki last week, the district is estimated to harvest about 9,500 tons. Reports from Wayanad district also show that the harvest to a significant reduction. The estimated production of this district is about 4,500 tons.
Production in Pathanamthitta and Kollam districts is also quite low because of the erratic rainy season, Joshua Daniel, owner of a large pepper farm.
The production of Pathanamthitta, Kollam and other regions in the region is estimated at 5,000 tons and therefore the output of the entire state of Kerala may be about 19,000 tons.
Combined with the state production of 20,000 tons of Karnataka, the total output of the next crop may be approximately 40,000 tons, traders and pepper farmers emphasize.
Forecast of Seasoning Board
The Indian Spice Board estimated 2014/2015 crop production of about 70,000 tons including 68,000 tons of black pepper and 2,000 tons of white pepper.
According to trade estimates, the current consumption of pepper in the Indian domestic market is about 60,000 tons per year due to the growth of per capita consumption.
The International Pepper Community (IPC) has expected 2015 pepper output of about 374,500 tons. Inventories of 2015 brought to 2016 at 60,386 tons, while inventories of 2014 brought to 2015 is estimated at only 59,036 tons.
Source English (giacaphe.vn)
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