Pepper wiped off from Wynad due to climate change issues:UPASI

13 October, Bengaluru

A leading producer of pepper in the country,the scenic Wynad area of Kerala today wiped off from theproduction of the spice due to change in climatic conditions and theregion fast emerging unsuitable for pepper rearing.

Addressing newsmen here, United Planters Association ofSouth India (UPASI) President D Vinod Sivappa said the country’spepper production had dwindled to 48,500 tonnes last year as against70,000 tonnes produced the previous year. This year the productionwas estimated at 50,000 tonnes by the Spices Board, but theproduction would be far less, he added.

He said with Wynad falling behind, Karnataka has emerged aleading producer of pepper whose exports tallied 28,100 tonnes lastyear fetching Rs 1730.42 crore. During the current fiscal, pepperexports had crossed 4300 tonnes with the US being the majordestination followed by the UK and Germany.

Karnataka Planters Association which is holding its annualConference here tomorrow has sought the Centre to immediately approvethe proposal of the Spices Board for an investment of Rs 13.84 croreunder the pepper package scheme for Karnataka to be implemented bythe National Horticulture Mission.