Pepper the 'King of Spices' is one of the most important spice crops
of India.
Ever since Vasco De Gama found it in Kerala in the 15th century it
had spread to the Western world and it was this spice that was the cause
of many expeditions and wars.
It is one of the oldest spices known to mankind and for many ages
a staple article of commerce between India and Europe.
Pepper or black pepper is the produce of the pepper vine.
It is a perennial climbing plant cultivated as a pure crop on plantation
scale or as a mixed crop along with Coffee or Orange on a large scale.
Pepper is grown in several tropical countries. India, sarawak (East
Malaysia), Indonesia and Sri Lanka are the main producers followed by
Brazil with a rising production.
In India large scale cultivation of the crop is mostly confined to
the sub mountainous tracts in and below the Western Ghats.
Kerala accounts for nearly 95% of the country's production with Karnataka
and Tamil Nadu making up the rest.
Almost every home stead in Kerala grows pepper along with Mango, Jack
or Arecanut.
As a rule pepper climbs on all rough barked trees and thrives well
on trees like Mango, Jack, Erythrina, Silver Oak, Arecanut, etc.
Statewise Area, Production and Productivity of Pepper in
India during 2002
History