Black pepper production in Kerala has fallen 25% in a decade due to pests and floods

New Delhi. Black pepper production in Kerala has fallen drastically. Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ramnath Thakur said the production is estimated to have fallen by 8 to 10 percent.

He disclosed this in the Lok Sabha while replying to a question raised by MP Abdusamad Samadani.

The minister said the area under pepper cultivation in the state has declined by 15 percent from 85,431 hectares in 2014-15 to 72,669 hectares in 2023-24. This is reflected in a 25 percent drop in production from 40,690 tonnes to 30,798 tonnes.

The minister attributed the decline to pests and diseases such as foot rot, which have made black pepper cultivation more difficult.