Pepper production likely to rise 10%

Exports continue to grow and prices for Indian pepper are also looking attractive

Pepper production is expected to grow by about 10 per cent this financial year, while cardamom production may be affected because of poor production in Kerala's Idukki district.

In 2015-16, pepper production was 48,500 tonnes, compared with 70,000 tonnes in 2014-15. Yield dropped to 376 kilos per hectare (ha) from 564.97 kg per ha.

"All pepper producing states have reported increase in production. This year, we expect pepper production to be 10 per cent higher," said A B Remashree, director (research), Spices Board.

Exports continue to grow and prices for Indian pepper are looking attractive, she added. Between April and June, 4,300 tonnes of pepper was exported for Rs 268.30 crore and unit value was Rs 623 per kg. In 2015-16, total quantity of pepper export was 28,100 tonnes and value was Rs 1,730.42 crore. Unit value stood at Rs 615.81 per kg.

Domestic average price during the current year (April to June) was Rs 718.49 per kg, compared with Rs 655.22 per kg. Further, total area of pepper production increased to 128,870 ha from 123,900 ha.

Speaking about production of cardamom (small), she said, in FY16, while total production area was stagnated for third year in a row at 69,970 ha, which had dropped from 71,285 ha in 2011-12, production has been rising since 2012-13.

In 2015-16, production of cardamom (small) was at 22,000 tonnes, compared with 18,000 tonnes in 2014-15 and 10,380 tonnes in 2010-11. Yield per kg touched an all-time high, since 2010-11, of 415 kg per ha.

This year, cardamom production in the Idukki district, Kerala, has been affected. Plant loss is estimated to be around 5-10 per cent, while crop loss is estimated to be around 25 per cent. As a long dry spell prevailed in cardamom-growing tracts.