The Hindu Business Line : Erratic rains hit pepper crop in Karnataka

Erratic rains in summer months this year have impacted the pepper crop in Karnataka. Trade and growers expect the pepper crop to shrink by over 35 to 40 per cent.

Concurring with trade estimates, a Spices Board official said he expected the crop size to be lower in Karnataka. "The crop survey is still on and likely to be completed by October. But the crop size is seen lower this year," he said.

Karnataka and Kerala are the largest pepper growing states, where the commodity is grown as an intercrop along with coffee and arecanut. Unconfirmed estimates indicate that Karnataka accounts for over 30 per cent of the country's pepper output.

A visit to the higher elevation areas in Kodagu revealed that the crop has been worst-affected this year. Pepper traders in Madikeri and Gonikoppa said the output this season would be lower by 35-40 per cent as the crop has not set in properly on time.

"The initial crop setting has been sparse and the subsequent settings have also been impacted due to continuous rains. The crop is also affected by disease like quick wilt," they added.

"It is almost gone. The crop is a total failure this year," said Mr John Thomas Ramapuram, a planter at Siddapura in Kodagu. "As the crop has not set in till now, I don't see it setting in the next few weeks," Mr Thomas said adding he expects the crop to be between 25-30 per cent that of last year.

Planters such as Mr M.G. Dattatreya from Chikmagalur district estimate the crop loss at about 60 per cent. "I feel the crop loss is higher in Karnataka than in Kerala, where people estimate it to be around 50 per cent."

Spices Board estimates indicate that the overall India pepper crop would be in the range of 45,000 to 50,000 tonnes in 2006-07. In anticipation of a lower domestic crop and on reports of lower crop from countries like Vietnam and Indonesia, pepper prices have already turned volatile.

Pepper prices at the farm gate level have shot up by some 20-25 per cent in the past two months. Prices, which were ruling at Rs 70-80 per kg at the farm gate level about two months ago, are now ruling at between Rs 110-115 per kg. However, officials of Tata Coffee Ltd, the largest pepper grower in the country, beg to differ. Mr M.H. Ashraff, managing director, Tata Coffee said they expect a normal crop this year as it was a "On Year" for them. Mr Ashraff estimates that pepper output at Tata Coffee would be in the region of 900 to 1000 tonnes.

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Erratic rains hit pepper crop in Karnataka