The Hindu Business Line : Pepper production to be affected this year

MUMBAI: Pepper production is likely to remain lower at 45,000-tonnes this year owing to rains in the Madekeri region of Karnataka which has led to spread of a crop disease.

Though the Indian production has been projected at 50,000 tonnes by the International Pepper Community (IPC), it is likely to be around 45,000 tonnes owing to rains in the Madikeri region of Karnataka resulting in severe berry drop, a crop disease, said Sharekhan's Head of Commodity Research, Mr Shailendra Kumar. According to trade sources, Karnataka normally produces 20,000-22,000 tonnes of black pepper annually but because of berry drop hitting the crops in select regions, it is likely to be in the r ange of 15,000-16,500 tonnes.

Wilt disease has affected pepper crop in the Wayanad belt in Kerala and production may fall significantly this year. Output in Kerala, they claim, could be around 25,000 tonnes, while the Tamil Nadu production is estimated at 5,000 tonnes. Thus, the tota l output of the current crop might hover around 46,500 tonnes, Mr Kumar said.

However, favourable weather conditions during the later stage of the crop production could help recover some of the losses and output is expected between 50,000-52,000 tonnes in the current year.

This would still be lower by around 10 per cent as compared to last year's production and lowest since the production data of 1991-92.

India is the world's top consumer of pepper. Domestic consumption for the last couple of years has ranged between 55,000-60,000 tonnes. - PTI

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