The International Pepper Community award for Jomy Mathew of Pothanikkad, near Kothamangalam, has brought international recognition to Indian pepper farmers. The award was presented on Saturday.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Spices Board’s awards ceremony, Mathew stated that there was a lot of potential for other spice crops in the country, including pepper, which had recently suffered a setback.
Mathew is said to have farmed about a hundred acres in Shimoga, Karnataka, with his main crops being pepper, rubber, arecanut, and coffee. He claimed that his IPC recognition was due to his high productivity.
In India, pepper production was 450 kg per ha, but it had reached seven tonnes. Kerala’s productivity rate was even lower, at 250 kg per ha, he said. He said that the high productivity was attained on a particular piece of land and that Vietnam farmers were able to produce roughly two tonnes per hectare.
The IPC is an intergovernmental organization of pepper-producing countries that was founded in 1972 under the auspices of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP). Permanent members include India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam, while associate members include Papua New Guinea and the Philippines.
Even though Kerala was considered the first source of pepper, with a long history, Mathew said he was thrilled to be the first farmer from India to be recognized by the IPC.