MSc.

The research entitled ‘Economic assessment of the use of microbial
inoculants in black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) in Idukki district. The
objectives of the study were to quantify the extent of use of microbial
inoculants (MI) used in black pepper, assess the economics of microbial
inoculants (MI) application and identify the constraints of microbial
inoculants adoption in pepper cultivation. At the first stage two blocks
namely Kattappana and Nedumkandam were selected purposively and
Irattayar and Nedumkandam panchayat were selected respectively from the 2
development blocks. The required information was collected from 30 MI
using farmers and 30 non-MI farmers of black pepper by simple random
sampling from the two panchayats. Thus the total sample size was 60.
Percentage analysis was done to analyze socio economic variables and
extent of adoption of MI. Cost ABC concept was used to calculate the cost of
cultivation of MI using farmers and non-MI farmers separately. Resource use
efficiency was calculated using Cobb Douglas production function and
constraints were ranked by Garret’s ranking technique.
Black pepper occupied about 45 per cent of cropped area and 30 per
cent area occupied by cardamom. Plantation crops like cocoa, coffee, spices
like nutmeg clove, vanilla and annuals like banana and vegetables were also
cultivated in this area.
Major varieties of black pepper cultivated were Panniyur I, Panniyur 4,
local varieties like Karimunda, Neelamundi, Vellamundi, Kottanadan,
Kuthiravaly, Kalluvallyand major standards for trailing pepper were
Murukku, Silver Oak and Kilinjil.
Average size of land holding was 1.85 ha for MI using farmers and
2.10 ha for non-MI farmers. Seventy three per cent of MI using farmers and
56 per cent of non-MI farmers had holdings ranging from 0.4-1.2 ha under
pepper. Forty percent of high income farmers were following non-MI pepper
farming.
Analysis of extent of use of microbial inoculants revealed that only 33
per cent were following the recommended rate of MI whereas 46.6 per cent
of farmers used in excess.Total cost of cultivation of black pepper per hectare
was more for non-MI farmers when compared to MI using farmers. Cost A1
of MI adopted farmers was Rs. 133797.24 ha-1 and that for non-MI was Rs.
155720.64 ha-1. Cost C was calculated as Rs. 295050.13 ha-1 and Rs.
439399.87 ha-1 for MI using famers and non-MI respectively. Major share of
cost A1 was contributed by cost of hired labourfor both categories followed
by cost of manures, fertilizers and soil ameliorants.
Yield of black pepper did not show much difference, but the farmers
using MI were mostly following organic farming, fetches a higher price of
Rs.700 per kg against the price ofRs.680 per kg for the non-MI famers. Net
returns at cost C for MI using farmers was Rs. 135749.75 which was higher
than that of non-MI farmers. BC ratios were 1.8 and 1.23 for MI adopters and
non-MI farmers respectively at cost C.
The Cobb Douglas production function analysis showed that number of
bearing pepper vines had a positive and significant impact on yield in both the
cases. In case of MI using farmers along with number of bearing vines, quantity
of manures had positive and significant impact on yield. Quantity of MI showed
positive coefficient but was non-significant. For the non-MI pepper farmers,
number of hired labour and quantity of manures showed positive and significant
impact in addition to number of bearing pepper vines. Difficulty in proper
identification of pests and diseases in the study area, less availability of
microbial inoculants other than Pseudomonas and Trichoderma, Lack of
knowledge about recommended method, dose and time of application of MI and
climate change were the major constraints observed.
Present research revealed that by using MI, farmers could reduce the use
of chemical fertilisers and pesticides; thereby they could reduce the cost of
cultivation and increase profitability. Excess adoption of MI was prominent
among the users and proper guidance is required to the farmers on the
application of recommended dose of microbial inoculants along with adequate
availability of all microbial inoculants.