Viability of Black Pepper (Piper nigrum) Farming in Gowainghat upazila of Sylhet District, Bangladesh

Abstract

The black pepper (Piper nigrum) plant is a well-liked spice plant with significant commercial value and great antioxidant potential. To investigate the native production techniques followed and assess the scope of black pepper gardening, information was gathered through personal interviews with 50 randomly chosen respondents directly and indirectly related to black pepper farming from the Gowainghat upazila in Sylhet district between July 2018 to December 2020. The majority of farmers preferred their source of seedlings (80%), stem cutting (58%), ≤ 1 year of seedling (52%), July to August planting time (36%), per plant planting density 2 to 3 (52%), 30×30×30 cm3 pit size (42%). While the majority of farmers avoid the use of fertilizer and manure (54.29%), watering (54%), fencing (96%), weeding (92%), pruning (94%), and pesticide (96%). Meanwhile, a high response was found for integrated production systems (100%), existing trees as support (84%), and pest infestation (78%). Flowering and fruiting information revealed that it took 3-4 years for the first flowering after transplanting (52%), May to June flowering month (78%), January to February harvesting time (68%) following manual harvesting method (100%), and maximum yield obtained was 3kg per plant (40%). Every single respondent (100%) employed the conventional way of processing. Farmers (100%) acknowledged the beneficiary and positive environmental impact of black pepper, whereas 76% were satisfied with their generated outcomes as they believed it could provide medicinal value (94%), and no health hazards (100%). It could be remarked that black pepper might be aided by a homestead and could contribute as a climate-smart agroforestry crop for local farmers of the Sylhet district. Hence, policy implications regarding improved production techniques and standard marketing channels should be enforced. Further research on the improvement of black pepper gardening should be examined.