Somwarpet :

Though the pepper growing area has been increasing in the district, the production is badly hit by drought this year. Experts estimate the yield could come down 20-25 per cent in the current season.

Pepper cultivation has become popular as prices increased more than three-fold in four years – from Rs 200 a kg to the current Rs 700. According to the Horticulture Department, pepper is grown on 10,857 hectares in the district, and approximately 5,000 tonnes of yield is expected.

District horticulture assistant director Pramod told Express on Tuesday that pepper production will be lower by at least 20-25 percent this year owing to drought. Normally the district receives the first rainfall of the year during February-March, but this year 70 per cent of the district failed to get rainfall even in April.

Pepper vines perish

In the parched areas of the district like Yedavare, Yedavanadu, Banavara, Kodlipet, Siddapura, Balele and Tithimathi, young pepper vines have wilted and died.

In many estates affluent growers were able to save the vines as well as their other crops using sprinklers. N K Palangappa, a small pepper grower in Gonikoppa, told Express that he lost nearly 50 per cent of his crop this year as he has no irrigation facilities. He said he was earning more income from pepper than from coffee, but this year it will not be be possible.

Karnataka is the largest pepper producer in India by overtaking Kerala two years ago.

Karnataka accounted for 33,000 tonnes of pepper last year, Kerala 28,000 tonnes and Tamil Nadu 9,000 tonnes. The total pepper production in India was 70,000 tonnes last year.

Spices Board marketing director S Kannan said the production of pepper in India is estimated at 53,000 tonnes this year. He said nearly 20-25 percent of the pepper crop has been lost in Karnataka and more than 30 per cent in Kerala.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Coovercolly Indresh / Express News Service / May 25th, 2016