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Madikeri: Pepper growers in Kodagu district, also known as Coorg, are facing a challenging year as erratic weather patterns have severely impacted the production of this essential spice. Following the damage to coffee and cardamom crops earlier this year, pepper vines are now bearing the brunt of adverse climatic conditions, leaving growers worried about a significant dip in yield.
The continuous rains in the region have resulted in increased soil moisture levels, which has negatively affected pepper vines. Raju N, who manages an estate in Somwarpet taluk, explained the situation, saying, “Many estates, where the annual yield was around 40 tonnes, may not get more than 10 tonnes this year. The continuous rains increased the moisture level in the soil and hindered the formation of catkins, which are essential for pepper production.”
Karnataka leads the country in pepper cultivation, with major producing districts including Kodagu, Hassan, Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga, Dakshina Kannada, and Uttara Kannada. However, this year's weather patterns have caused widespread concern among pepper growers across the region. The black pepper crop has also been hit by blight, which, combined with the heavy rains, has downed several pepper vines, further exacerbating the situation.
Growers Faced Dual Threats of Rain and Summer Heat
Mahesh B.K., a grower from Ponnampet, highlighted another dimension of the problem, stating, “The spice crop of pepper is not just suffering losses due to rain but is also severely threatened by the scorching heat we experienced last summer.” He further added, “Due to the intense summer heat, the groundwater level was significantly lowered, and the pepper vines have been adversely affected. The pepper has not yet started to yield, and this is a major concern for us.”
Despite these challenges, black pepper growers in Karnataka have seen higher prices for their produce this year, primarily due to a drop in output from drought-stricken Vietnam, the world’s largest producer of the spice. This supply shortage led to a surge in pepper prices, with the cost of one kilogram of pepper rising from ₹450 last year to ₹700 in June this year. This price hike has made the global market, particularly the West, turn to India, one of the top five exporters of the spice. However, growers remain anxious about whether the yield will be sufficient to meet the demand.
India's Pepper Exports Surge, Growers Fear Climate Impact
The Spices Board of India reports that India cultivated black pepper on over three lakh hectares (ha) of land, producing 1.25 lakh tonnes of the spice in the 2023-24 season. Karnataka played a significant role in this output, with farmers cultivating pepper on 2.22 lakh ha and producing nearly 89,000 tonnes. Kerala, another major pepper-producing state, harvested 27,505 tonnes from 73,615 ha of land.
Pepper cultivation areas and production in India have been on the rise since 2019-20, when the total cultivated area was 2.59 lakh ha, and production stood at 61,000 tonnes. This upward trend has continued, with the 2023-24 season showing substantial growth in both area and output.
India exported nearly 17,890 tonnes of pepper in 2023-24, earning ₹736.48 crore in revenue. However, despite this impressive figure, pepper accounts for only 2% of the total spices exported from the country. With the current challenges in production, growers in Karnataka and other pepper-producing regions are concerned about the future of this 'black gold.'
As pepper growers in Kodagu and surrounding districts continue to battle the unpredictable weather, the hope is that the resilience they have shown in the past will help them navigate through this tough period. However, with the stakes so high and the margins for error so slim, the coming months will be crucial in determining the overall impact on pepper production in the region.
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