Abstract:
It is often argued that the performance of agricultural sector is
influenced by number factors- both price and non-price. Studies on
Kerala agriculture have shown that, driven by these factors, the cropping
pattern in Kerala has undergone major changes which inter alia included
a shift away from food crops to commercial crops. The key question
however arises here is, whether the performance of these crops in terms
of area, production and yield in Kerala varied across regions and the
influencing factors therein. Since the markets are highly integrated, the
role of price factors is expected to be minimal. Hence the present paper
undertakes an analysis on the cultivation of Black pepper in Kerala
with a view to explore the role of non price factors especially the
institutional arrangements, behind the acreage decision of pepper
growers and the enhancement of pepper production in Kerala. Dawing
from the analysis of available secondary data and primary survey in
Idukki and Wayanad, the study presents evidences for regional variation
in acreage allocation towards black pepper in Kerala especially in
northern and central Kerala. The failure of institutional support at proper
time and the lack of coordination among agencies concerned lead the
growers to move away from black pepper to other commercial crops.
Drawing from its findings, the study calls for more intense institutional
intervention and highlights the need for better coordination among
various agencies to provide the extension services and support at the
proper time to the pepper growers.
