Dr. P.S. Sreekantan Thampi Deputy Director, Spices Board, Guntur Pepper Revolution Across AP - Borders

Seemingly a Vietnam experience in pepper, spices of green pepper like those into freeze drying or in cultivation in non-traditional areas along Andhra brine or into making of oils and oleoresins, the Pradesh - Odisha State borders and futther in the availability of green pepper will be more than 50,000 hinterlands of Odisha are taking a silent upbeat. tonnes. Perhaps not estimated in the production figures for This is a substantial quantity and ifthe unscientifically pepper in , this augmented hitherto unknown share managed vines are cared well, the production will go in pepper production will surely cheer the trade and up significantly. The agencies like the Integrated TIibal exporters. There has been decline in Indian pepper Development Agency (ITDA) of Government of production and this development will be gratifying. and the Coffee Board Research Even a conservative estimate can put the total Station at Minumuluru in Paderu has been providing availability of black pepper from this border region at pepper planting materials at the rate of 150 plants per around l7,000 tonnes per year. For the processors hectare. There is good scope to expand the number

_ 4 January 2017 Board to effectively market link the pepper ofPaderu. GCC is now marketing organically celtified Arakku Coffee. The pepper that is grown in the organically celtified coffee plantations can secure a celtification as Arakku pepper also. The AP State Government recently approved a comprehensive coffee development plan for Padem comprising the new expansion of one lakh acres, quality improvement tlu·ough wet processing using baby pulpers, organic celtification as well as marketing intervention by Girijan Cooperative Corporation at a total cost of Rs 526.16 crore for a period of 10 years from 2015-16 to 2024-25. Coffee, primarily the Robusta variety, is being cultivated in over 55,000 acres in Padel1l Agency areas along with pepper. Over sixty percent of these plantations are found in the II mandals of the Agency. Coffee and pepper are game changers and cUlTently the wind is blowing in favour of pepper. As the plices of both Robusta and Arabica Coffee l1lling around Rs.135 to Rs.l40 per kg, pepper of vines from 150per hectare to nearly 500 vines per is emerging as money spinner with an attractive price hectare (still less than the recommended vine offer of around Rs . 600 per kg. population by the Indian Institute of Spices Research). There is a clear evidence of interest on the patt of This is a silent pepper revolution taking shape in the farmers to grow pepper. An added attribute to the AP- Odisha border lines in over 10 mandals and the pepper in these at-eas is the status of staying organic in the three adjoining districts of Odisha. by default. Except in rare instances of some bare In the Andhra Pradesh border side, the ITDA is minimum application of essential feltilizers, the entire focusing development of commercial crops like coffee stretch had never tried or tested any Sott of pesticide and pepper as an intercrop. The tall growing silver so far. oak trees have been congenial to train pepper vines The pepper vines mostly are Panniyur and which climb to greater heights. Pepper as an intercrop Karimunda varieties. However there is a concern on has gained acceptance among the tribal farmers in the the part of the pepper farmers on the rising yellowing Agency area and in Odisha too. Being a shade loving of pepper leaves. They fear about phytophthora and crop, coffee plantations have good collection of shade slow wilt diseases. But the interest to cat·e the plant is trees and black pepper is considered as the best increasing. suitable associated crop. The Silver Oaks provide the ideal strands for training the pepper vines. The The pepper farmers in Padel1l are generally tribal Project Officer of the ITDA, Mr. Ravi Pattom Shetti and they are more often exploited by the traders by lAS has remarked that the ITDA is committed to offering much less plices as against the terminal market develop the pepper of Paderu and has expressed his prices. The educated and well off coffee planters hope that the Spices Board lent lots of support and thanks to the access to information are able to reap initiatives. TheAndhra Pradesh Girijan Cooperative the market advantages. Corporation Limited (GCC) Managing Director, The districts of Koraput, Rayagarh and Kalahandi Dr. Ravi Prakash is seeking the involvement of Spices in Odisha have innumerable plantations. While the

6 Janua .. y2017 . • I ITDAandGCC The Integrated Tribal Development Authority In the year 1956 after the fOlmation of Andhra (ITDA), established by the govenunent of Andhra Pradesh Girijan Cooperative COlporation Limited Pradesh under the Tribal Welfru'e Deprutment in the (GCC), the Coffee Board identified GCC for year 1975 as single line administrative agencies to promoting coffee plantations. Since then GCC cater to holistic development of the tribal people. started making efforts to develop coffee plantation The ITDA is working in an area categorized as through local tribal famers. A separate coffee wing Schedule 5 Area under the Constitution of India was carved out in GCC and promoting coffee in commonly known as the Agency Area. The ITDA around 4000 hectares taken up. was registered under the Societies Registration Act Thus, the coffee grown in Arak.u valley by the XXI of 1869 which include preparation of Projects tribal farmers under organic practices attained and initiation of Socio-economic surveys, re­ recognition as 'Araku coffee'. After 1985, GCC organization and strengthening ofAdministrative promoted another organization by name Girijan Structure; preparation ofland records; setting up or Coop Plantation Development Corporation strengthening credit-cum-marketing strncture; debt (GCPDC) exclusively to develop coffee plantations redemption schemes, preliminary work on plantation in tribal areas. All the plantations developed by GeC schemes and execution of Minor IrIigation Schemes and GCPDC were handed over to the tribal farmers etc. The Project Officers ofITD As were vested with @ 2 acres to each family. In July, 1997 the the administrative control over Agriculture, employees working in GCPDC were deployed to Horticulture, Livestock Farms, Ashram Schools etc. ITDA and coffee expansion was taken up under Coffee was first introduced in of Five year Plan and MGNREGS. Thus presently the Andhra Pradesh in 1898 by Mr. Brodi, a Brtisher in coffee culti vation reached one lakh acres and Pamuleru valley in . maintained by the tribal farmers. In India, while coffee Subsequently, it spread over to Pullangi (East plantations were well developed over the last century Godavari district) and Araku Valley, Gudem of in Western Ghats, expansion of coffee in Eastern Visakhapatnrun agency tracks. In 1920s even though Ghats is still to develop. Coffee is grown under it spread over to Ananthagiri in Araku valley and organic practices under shades of Mango, Jackfruit, Chrntapalli areas, coffee cultivation remained Banana and silver oak trees. Around 1 lakh tribal dormant for a long time. In 1960s, the Andhra families living in this region are getting fmancially Pradesh Forest Department developed coffee stabilized through coffee cultivation. The coffee plantations in 10 100 acres in Reserve forest areas. cultivated in this region at an altitude of 900 to 11 00 These plantations were handed over to the A.P. m MSL is having unique qualities due to medium

L-Forest______Development COlporation in the year 1985. ___ acidity in soil. crop is meager in Rayagarh and Kalahandi, Koraput can boasts of dch lush pepper gardens. Many planters prefer to be identified as pepper planters on account of the high prices and the resultant plant care they are bestowing on to the pepper vines. The premier pepper planting production centre in Panniyur in NOlth Kerala once used to be destination for many pepper frumers from Kamataka is now witnessing scores of Odisha farmers taking pepper seedlings. They ru"e approaching the Pernvannrunuzhi frum oflndian Institute of Spices Research, Calicut too. r"':j;;;;::::\:1 8 January 2017