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Current State and Prospective Trends of Black Pepper (Piper nigrum L.) Production

Although pepper is not quantitatively a major crop – exportable world production totalling only some 132 000 tonnes annually, valued at US $162 million – it is a very important constituent of the normal diet in many parts of the world. This article reviews the factors affecting the growth of the crop and the problems of maintaining a balance between supply and demand. It argues that a major obstacle to stabilizing the industry is the lack of a satisfactory control measure for the devastating footrot disease.