The tribal farmers of Vancvhivayal, a settlement inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR), are a happy lot.
For, they get the highest price for green pepper in the State as the entire lot is exported to Germany.
In this hill-locked fertile forestland, all farmers grow organic pepper thanks to the effort of the Periyar Tiger Conservation Foundation.
The 63 families at Vancvhivayal are busy harvesting the crop and the yield is expected to be over 20 tonnes this year. They get Rs.270 a kg this season for their produce, which Rs.110 more than the local market rate.
V.Radhakrishnan, secretary of the Eco-Development Committee (EDC), said the committee prompted the farmers to take up green pepper cultivation.
In 2005, 20,578 kg of organic pepper fetched Rs.5,14,470 and last year, the farmers got Rs.52,63,940 selling 23,027 kg.
“Every year, an international agency gives organic certification after testing the soil and the farmers are advised to stick to the organic mode. Moreover, it is their way of cultivation as they do not use chemical pesticides or fertilizers as the soil is rich. The farmers clear the weeds twice a year and the decayed leaves and weeds are the main agents that fertilise the soil,” says P.N. Sebastian, EDC facilitator.
A PTR official said the foundation used to directly export the produce to Germany. However, due to official constraints, it invited bids from private agencies to procure pepper before the harvest season every year.
“In 2013, 23,565 kg of pepper was sold at Rs.35,34,750 at Rs.150 a kg (market price Rs.129). Since we get a decent price, we are all happy to be pepper farmers,” says Remakutty, wife of Radhakrishnan.
Valsa Yesodaran, a farmer, said every week the price of the collected pepper would be remitted in their bank account.
“Other than arranging the organic certification and inviting quotations, the foundation does not have a role in collecting the material or transferring the money to the account holder. It is for ensuring transparency. All tribal farmers of Vancvhivayal are members on the EDC, which procures pepper from them,” a PTR official said.
