India’s pepper production this year is expected to be higher than average, but not likely to “double or triple” as initially estimated, according to the report. Business Line.
The crop in Karnataka, one of the two main pepper growing states, is estimated to be 30 to 35 percent above normal in the range of 35,000 to 40,000 tonnes, according to pepper farmers in the Sakleshpur and Chikmagaluru regions.
“New pepper plants planted in some areas have already begun to be harvested. Besides, the yield in the old pepper gardens is now very good. But, it is not doubling or tripling as was previously forecast,” said Sunil Kumar, a pepper farmer in Sakleshpur, Hassan district. BusinessLine. He said the excessive number of seeds per string made the pepper very small.
Karnataka state production could be in the range of 50,000 tonnes according to current estimates, Sunil farmer said. While some other pepper farmers in the state think it will be in the range of 70,000-80,000 tons. Harvesting of the new pepper crop has begun in the Sakleshpur and Chikamagaluru regions.
Currently, dealers have offered to sell old-season pepper at Rs 650/kg on a cash basis and self-delivery. In some areas of the state, new season pepper has been offered for sale at Rs 450/kg.
According to the Spices Commission, the pepper area in Karnataka is 21,061 hectares with an output of 16,000 tons in the 2011/12 crop. The area here has more than doubled since then, pepper growers said. New pepper plants will give seeds 3-5 years after planting and give good yields from the 5th year onwards.
In the crop year 2011/12, pepper production in Kerala state was 16,500 tons against a total area of 172,182 hectares. But pepper growers say a large area of arable land is now just paper. The number of pepper plants may be several times less.
“About 10 years ago it took farmers two weeks to harvest the entire pepper plant for seeds per hectare of land in the Kumily area. But, now it only takes two days because many pepper plants have been destroyed by wilt disease and die quickly,” said Punnoose, a pepper grower.
According to Joshua Daniel, a major pepper grower in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala state, almost 70 percent of the area has been harvested and the crop is better than last year. “Last year we had a loss but this year is good. The erratic rain has reduced production,” he told BusinessLine.
“This year’s case is better than last year. But not a bountiful harvest as was said. Just an average crop,” said PA Thomas, a pepper farmer in the Upputhara Idukki area.
The goods coming from the southern districts have dried up, Kishor Shamji, a purchasing and exporting agent for pepper, said the supply did not match the previously expected output, causing something to go wrong.
Total production for the 2013/14 crop has been estimated at around 35,000 tonnes, including low inventories. This is contrary to the normal production in the range of 55,000-65,000 tons a few years earlier.
S. Kannan, Chairman of the Spices Council of India, said the total production of this crop could be in the range of 70,000-75,000 tons.
Domestic consumption is forecast at about 45,000 – 48,000 tons. Pepper is used daily, usually in very small quantities, so the price increase may not affect consumption habits.
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