From the archive record
Men collect black pepper from a farm in Arunachal Pradesh. It is popularly known as the king of spices and mainly cultivated in the southern parts of India, comprising of states Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh and Pondicherry. India is a major producer, consumer and exporter of black pepper. Being a crop of warm humid tropics, black pepper requires approximately 250 rainy days with a total annual rainfall of 2,000–3,000mm for its vigorous growth. A dry spell of 30–45 days before flowering is required for successful fruit set. Black pepper also requires a high humidity of 75–95% for its healthy growth. The hot and humid climate of Western Ghats is ideal for the cultivation of black pepper and perhaps, this is the reason behind high productivity