Pepper production for 2007-08 is likely to decline only marginally contrary to reports that the crop has suffered extensive damage, says a pre-harvest survey conducted last month by the Directorate of Cocoa, Arecanut and Spices Development. The annual farm survey conducted jointly with the Spices Board estimates the new crop to be around 50,000-52,000 tonne. Last year?s pre-harvest survey had pegged the 2006-07 production at 55,000 tonne.
Production is set to decline substantially in Karnataka, while it is expected to increase in Tamil Nadu and parts of Kerala, M Tamil Selvan, director of Directorate of Cocoa, Arecanut and Spices Development told FE.
?In Karnataka, production will be lower by 15-20 % compared to last year due to the prevalence of rot disease,? he said. Heavy rains in the growing regions of Karnataka have also affected production, he added. Kerala leads in production followed by Karnataka. Production is expected to increase by 10% in Tamil Nadu, Tamil Selvan pointed out. It is estimated that Tamil Nadu produces 8,000-9,000 tonne of pepper annually. In Kerala, except for the Wayanad region, all other parts are showing an increase in production, he said. Production will be significantly lower in Wayanad due to the destruction of vines and the support trees. The Idukki region, which accounts for 40% the state?s pepper production, is likely to show increased production, the survey points out. Other areas of production like Kannur are also likely to see increased pepper output, he said. Farmers and traders have been claiming that the new crop is likely to be shorter by 20-30% due to the heavy rains.
The estimates arrived by the directorate is more or less similar to the figures of the Pepper Task Force. Pepper Task Force comprises officials of Spices Board, exporting firms and traders and conducts trade estimation every year for the International Pepper Community (IPC).