Pepper harvesting in Kerala has been delayed due to heavy and continuous rains that lashed the state during June – September, traders said. Ripening of pepper berries has been slower due to the lower temperature, they added. Contrary to the usual trend, arrival of pepper has been slow and lower compared to the previous years, Kishore Shamji, a leading exporter told FE. Harvesting usually starts from November end, starting in the plains of southern Kerala, and moving on to the high ranges by January, he said. Arrivals from the southern plains like Punalur and Pathanamthitta has been very poor this season, Shamji said. The second round of the produce comes from Changanaserry, Thrissur and Malapurram belt and then on to the higher altitudes of Idukki and Wayanad, he said. However, currently, the spot availability of the commodity is minimal at the terminal market, he said.
Berries in Idukki district are days away from ripening and still fleshy, P A John, assistant director at the district agricultural office told FE. ?Six months of continuous rains is likely to delay the harvesting,? he said. John adds that production in the district would be lower by 40% of the previous year?s figures with berry shedding rampant in most farms. Erratic weather has been known to affect the growth of pepper and over the years the harvesting has been getting delayed. A study conducted by Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) says that for the past few years, monthly rainfall in June and July is seen decreasing and increasing in August and September. Alex C Mathew, assistant director at district agricultural office, Wayanad said, ?Berry picking could start from mid-January and the commodity is likely to come to the market only by February,? he said.
