NEW METHOD TO BOOST PEPPER PRODUCTION

NEW METHOD TO BOOST

 PEPPER PRODUCTION

T. NANDAKUMAR

In a development that could significantly improve the productivity of pepper crop in the State, scientists at Kerala Agricultural University’s Pepper Research Station (PRS), Panniyur, have developed a new layering method for producing quality planting material of pepper.The simple but innovative method, called serpentine layering, facilitates simultaneous production of multiple rooted cuttings, round the year. At present, the availability of pepper planting material is limited by seasonal production.The new method begins with planting rooted pepper cuttings in polythene bags kept in a nursery with roofing sheet or shade net. Small polybags are kept under the nodes that develop as the plants grow. The roots emerging from the nodes develop further nodes. More polybags are attached with each new node and more plants develop.

Once twenty nodes from a mother plant develop roots, the first ten rooted nodes are cut away and the stubs pushed back into the polybags to instigate profuse rooting. The rooted nodes develop sprout in a week and can be used for planting after three months.“The new method provides at least 60 rooted cuttings from each mother cutting in a year. In other words, the production of rooted cuttings can be increased sixty times using this method,” says V. P. Neema,  Professor and Head, PRS.Pepper production in Kerala is marked by low productivity. Though the crop is grown in over 1.71 lakh hectares in the State, production is less than 20,000 tonnes. Karnataka produces the same quantity on just 20,000 hectares. The poor production has made it difficult for farmers in Kerala to meet the rising demand.KAU Vice-Chancellor P. Rajendran said the new method would ensure the availability of quality planting material for farmers. “The average yield of pepper in countries like Thailand and Vietnam is three to five times that in Kerala. The main reason for the poor productivity of pepper in Kerala is that most of the vines here are too old. A massive replanting drive is needed if the situation is to improve. But that will not happen unless quality planting material is made available”.Dr. Rajendran proposes a consortium of farmers, agricultural scientists and local self government institutions to supply pepper planting material at subsidised rate. KAU is simultaneously trying to develop a mechanical pepper harvester that could be used by women.

Prof. John Kurakar