Lok Sabha Question No. 3875 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-12
Subject: Cultivation of Black Pepper
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Ujjwal Raman Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3875

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12 TH  August, 2025

## CULTIVATION OF BLACK PEPPER

3875: SHRI UJJWAL RAMAN SINGH: Will  the  Minister  of    AGRICULTURE  AND  FARMERS  WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण मंğी be pleased to state: (a) whether it is a fact that the Government proposes to provide special benefits to farmers for cultivating black pepper to increase the profits of the farmers of the country; (b) if so, the number of States in the country where black pepper is being cultivated successfully at present; (c)  whether  cultivation  of  black  pepper  being  done  through  modern  technology  is satisfactory in different States of the country, particularly in Uttar Pradesh; and

(d) whether there has been increase in the income of farmers due to this and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण राÏय मंğी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a):  Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme is being implemented from 2014-15 with the aim for holistic development of horticulture in the country. Under MIDH, several development programs are available for the benefit of pepper farmers in the country, wherein financial assistance is being provided for various components i.e. production of planting materials, area expansion, promotion of IPM/INM, integrated post-harvest management etc.

Apart  from  the  above,  the  Directorate  of  Arecanut  and  Spices  Development (DASD) directly implements specific programmes through State Agricultural Universities (SAU) and ICAR Institutes located in the major pepper growing States. The major programmes taken up by DASD for black pepper are as under:

-  Production  and  distribution  of  nucleus  planting  materials  of  high  yielding varieties of black pepper
-  Setting up of hi-tech nurseries to ensure a steady supply of high-quality planting materials of spices including black pepper
-  Accreditation of black pepper nurseries in both the public and private sectors Establishment of frontline  demonstration to promote  organic  production technology in black pepper
-  Supporting ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research for developing a scientific technique for varietal authentication of black pepper

(b):  Black pepper is cultivated as a successful means of livelihood in around ten States across the country, with the area under cultivation ranging from approximately 500 ha to 2 lakh hectares. The major black pepper growing States include Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil  Nadu,  Meghalaya,  Maharashtra,  Goa,  Tripura,  Andhra  Pradesh,  and  West Bengal. In addition, black pepper is also cultivated to a limited extent in Nagaland, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Puducherry, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram etc.

(c):  Black pepper cultivation in the country is progressing through the spread of high yielding varieties and adoption of modern technologies in crop production, integrated pest/disease  management  etc.  For  instance,  in  Karnataka,  the  area  under  black pepper cultivation increased by 38%, and production rose by 36% during the five-year period  from  2019-20  to  2023-24.  Similarly,  the  black  pepper  cultivation  is  gaining momentum in States like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Meghalaya, West Bengal etc. This increase in both area and production have been achieved through adoption of the latest available technologies in crop management. However, Uttar Pradesh is not a prominent black pepper growing State.

(d): No authentic studies are currently available revealing the role of black pepper in increasing the income of black pepper farmers. However, it is evident that the increase in  area  and  production  of  black  pepper  coupled  with  good  prevailing  prices  is significantly contributing to the increase of farmers' income.

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