Cumulative production of all pepper producing countries
during 2003 is estimated to be 327,250 tons, a reduction of 4%
over 2002 figure - 341,300 tons. India, Brazil and Malaysia reported
significant reductions in output, while production in Vietnam
and China increased, resulting in an overall decline of 41,050
tons.
Riding high demand, world pepper production increased
significantly between 1997 and 2002 – from 189,000 tons
to 341,000 tons, an increase of over 12% per annum. The increase
in production is mostly attributable to Vietnam’s emergence
as a major pepper producer. However, other pepper producing countries
also contributed to this dramatic growth, though at lesser rate,
with as much as 83,000 tonnes (or 67%) of the increased production
coming from Brazil, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and
China. With the fall in production in 2003 led by India, Brazil
and Malaysia, the trend reversal may be significant, especially
with Vietnam anticipating no increase in production in 2004.
Table 1: World Pepper Production : 1997
- 2003
Country |
1997
|
1998
|
1999
|
2000
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
| Brazil |
18,000 |
17,000 |
22,000 |
26,385 |
43,000 |
45,000 |
35,000 |
| India |
60,000 |
65,000 |
75,000 |
58,000 |
79,000 |
80,000 |
65,000 |
| Indonesia |
43,291 |
56,250 |
44,500 |
77,500 |
59,000 |
66,000 |
67,000 |
| Malaysia |
18,000 |
19,000 |
21,500 |
24,000 |
27,000 |
24,000 |
22,000 |
| Sri Lanka |
4470 |
6771 |
4740 |
10,676 |
7,800 |
12,600 |
12,750 |
| Vietnam |
25,000 |
22,000 |
30,000 |
36,000 |
56,000 |
75,000 |
85,000 |
| Others |
19,993 |
20,263 |
20,600 |
26,625 |
33,895 |
38,712 |
40,500 |
| Total |
188,694 |
206.284 |
218,340 |
259,186 |
305,695 |
341.312 |
327,250 |
Note:
1. Figures are estimates
2. Source: World Pepper Community
While most pepper producing countries have witnessed
stagnant or little growth in pepper harvested area – one notable
exception has been Vietnam, which has invested substantially over
the years in pepper production, as can be seen from harvest area
statistics below:
Table 2 : Harvested Area in Major Pepper Producing
Countries
| Pepper,
White/Long/Black
Area Harvested (Ha) |
Year
|
| 2000
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
| World |
403,942 |
434,290 |
448,601 |
455,156 |
| Brazil |
16,217 |
20,739 |
23,101 |
23,101 |
| China |
12,610 |
13,110 |
13,615 |
13,615 |
| India |
196,000 |
214,000 |
215,000 |
215,000 |
| Indonesia |
85,000 |
83,000 |
84,000 |
84,000 |
| Madagascar |
4,020 |
4,000 |
3,985 |
3,990 |
| Malaysia |
13,084 |
13,468 |
16,300 |
16,300 |
| Sri Lanka |
28,440 |
28,470 |
28,500 |
28,500 |
| Viet Nam |
27,900 |
36,100 |
43,500 |
48,800 |
Source: Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)
In spite of having largest harvested area, India has
the poorest yield in the world. With change in harvesting technique
– India has the potential to overtake all other pepper producing
countries in the world:
Table 3 : Comparative Yield Among Major
Pepper Producing Countries
| Pepper,
White/Long/Black
Yield (Hg/Ha) |
Year
|
| 2000
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
| World |
7,150 |
7,253 |
7,184 |
8,052 |
| Brazil |
23,855 |
24,177 |
24,646 |
27,265 |
| China |
14,009 |
14,237 |
15,185 |
15,182 |
| India |
3,010 |
2,991 |
2,372 |
2,372 |
| Indonesia |
8,128 |
8,049 |
7,988 |
7,988 |
| Madagascar |
3,905 |
3,988 |
4,028 |
4,010 |
| Malaysia |
19,192 |
21,234 |
19,939 |
19,939 |
| Sri Lanka |
5,928 |
6,003 |
5,789 |
5,789 |
| Viet Nam |
14,050 |
12,299 |
11,747 |
18,443 |
Source: Food and Agricultural Organization
(FAO) |
