There has been a sudden upsurge in black pepper price.
What was `60 per kilo a few days ago has witnessed a meteoric rise to `400.
One may tend to think that this would gladden the growers, but it is not the case.
What is seen as a boon for wholesale traders has become a curse for small and medium growers.
The medium planters had sold their produce when the market value was at its lowest, as they did not have the means to store it.
Wholesale dealers who had purchased and stocked it when the price was low will make a kill.
Black pepper is grown widely as an inter-crop in coffee and areca plantations of Malnad.
This flowering vine also adds beauty to the plantations and is a source of extra income.
The pepper grown in Mudigere, Sakleshpur and Belur region, is said to be of good quality.
Wilt Disease Worrisome
Wilt disease is a common affliction and affects the plant more during drought or excessive rains.
It causes the plant to wilt rapidly during rainy days but slows down towards the end of the monsoon.
If the vine is left untreated, the roots and stem start decaying and the plant dies.
B C Aravind of Bhootankad Estate near Mudigere, who propagates organic farming, advises the use of cattle manure, neem paste, Bordo mixture, Panchagavya and Trichoderma to keep the disease under control and rejuvenate the vines.
He also suggests that growers go in for grafted cultivation which was developed by a pepper grower of Karnataka N Yedukumar.
Scientist at the Mudigere Agriculture Science Centre Dr Umashankar gives some tips to growers who want to experiment with this method
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