USA is the largest importer of pepper accounting for 21 per cent of the world imports followed by Singapore 16 per cent, Germany 8 per cent, the Netherlands 5 per cent, France 5 per cent, Japan 3 per cent and the rest share the remaining 39 per cent, while Singapore reexports its purchase.Black pepper is the foremost export oriented spice produced in India and it accounts for about 40 per cent of the total export earnings from spices compared to export which was 25.42 per cent in 1998-99.

Nonetheless, the foreign exchange earnings increased up to 17.95 per cent, which was mainly due to the rise in the unit value price.

The recent trend of pepper export from countries which produce it, showed that India exported over 30,000 tonnes during 1999. Next to India was Vietnam which exported 25,000 tonnes of pepper.

According to International Pepper Community (IPC) India's export growth is in tune with the global trend. During 1999, four major exporting countries - India, Brazil, Indonesia and Malaysia exported 65,000 tonnes, an increase of 29 per cent over the year ago.

During this period, the export from Indonesia were 88 per cent higher than in the previous year. This was mainly due to an increase in export, as the crop was better.

Despite global share of 4 to 50 per cent Indian spices faces a threat from the new entrants.

Even as other pepper exporting countries like Indonesia, Malaysia and Brazil succumbed to crop failure, Vietnam was able to hold its own and eat into India's export share.

Vietnam ships 90-95 per cent of its crop. Vietnam has exported around 24,000 tonnes of pepper, which is higher than the estimated crop of 1998.

Besides, the experts of Vietnam's spices export predicted that during 2000 the pepper output might jump compared to 1999 as more vines started yielding.That would mean that their output in 2000 will be around 33,000 to 38,000 tonnes, a key exporter of black pepper. Vietnam is coming up in a big way in the pepper market and hence the farmers in India should raise their productivity so as to compete in the domestic and international market.

Indian pepper was selling at $4200 a tonne during 1999, whereas the Vietnam pepper was quoted at $3700. In term of quality the Indian variety, which is perceived to be superior, alone might not ensure India's continued domination.

According to experts pepper programmes in India should emphasise on evolving varieties with better resistance to drought conditions. Provision of irrigation facilities and other measures to reduce the impact of irregular monsoon on yield levels should improve.

One of the major problem for the low productivity in Kerala is the use of Erythrina as a supporting tree on which there is a creeping limitation for pepper and this always brought down the yield per plant. If silver oak tree is used, the growth of the pepper plant can be better.

Adaption of organic cultivation, which increases the quality and hence demand for the produce, is more in Western countries and should be encouraged.

Black pepper is one of the most important and earliest known spices in the world. It plays a significant role in Indian economy. Based on International trade, it is called `KIng of Spices'. It is mainly cultivated in India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brazil, Thailand, Sri Lanka and in some other tropical countries.

It requires adequate rainfall and a humid climate for its optimal growth and yield.

In many countries, where pepper is popular the uses are mainly as a food ingredient and as a preservative. Besides, almost all the traditional systems of medicine - Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, Unani, Aromatherapy as well as Chinese and African Systems, regularly use pepper in various forms, both preventive and curative for an astonishing number of ailments with remarkable success.

Pepper is an effective cure for malaria and also functions as mosquito repellant. Pepper could help in relief from cold and cough, reduce fever, function as an analgesic or antiepileptic, helps in digestion, serves as an antidote for food poisoning and relieves headaches. The king of spices has also some cosmetic value and if applied as recommended it could help control baldness and hair loss.

In India, pepper cultivation is mainly concentrated in that States - Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and the Union territory of Pondicherry. According to Indian Cardamom Reserach Institute, on the limited scale it is grown in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Andamans and also cultivation is being tried in the Northern Eastern region.

Cultivation of black pepper in the country started many thousand years ago. At present, there are about 100 black pepper cultivators in India, the major variability being in Kerala and Karnataka.

The author is a manager with State Bank of Patiala, Chandigarh