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Goa Farmers Get High-Yield Black Pepper Saplings
5 Aug
Summary
- Bicholim FPC distributed 3,000 high-yield 'IISR Chandra' black pepper saplings.
- New variety offers superior yield and is developed by IISR.
- Black pepper cultivation can provide additional income on arecanut and coconut farms.
The Bicholim Progressive Farmer Producer Company (FPC) has initiated a program to boost pepper production by distributing 3,000 saplings of the 'IISR Chandra' variety. This high-yielding black pepper strain was developed by the ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR) and sourced from Kerala with assistance from ICAR-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute (CCARI).
Senior scientist Shripad Bhat highlighted that black pepper can be successfully grown as an intercrop on arecanut and coconut plantations, generating substantial additional income for farmers. He noted that while the crop is profitable, it is susceptible to foot rot disease, which impacts yields in Goa and other coastal areas.
Effective management of diseases like foot rot, coupled with modern harvesting techniques, can significantly improve returns. Using harvesting poles and ladders judiciously can also protect pepper vines during harvest, encouraging more farmers to adopt the crop and enhance their earnings.
