The Black Gold
The Black Gold
"Pepper Picking Perspectives: A Harvesting Tale"
India is the second-largest global producer of pepper, with Karnataka being its primary cultivating state.Pepper planting is done manually due to the absence of machinery, demanding meticulous care. A three-year-old mother plant is chosen, and a cut branch is planted under a tree for support. Improper attachment of vines to the tree may damage the entire pepper plant.
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Pepper plants need 70mm of rain during flowering. However, both insufficient and excess rainfall can harm peppers. Excessive rain may cause root decay. Climate instability impacts both peppers and farmers.
Weeds are manually removed every two weeks due to the high cost of machinery; if available, a skilled operator is required, and the associated costs are borne by the farmer.
Laborers climb trees using ladders or bamboo for harvesting the grown pepper, a risky operation with the potential for falls. While plucking with one hand and placing peppers in a shoulder sack, they climb simultaneously, requiring utmost care. In some instances, a stick with a hook is used, but tall plants make this operation impossible.
Women laborers, primarily responsible for threshing harvested pepper to separate seeds from stalks, face leg pain and strain in the process. Moreover, they receive lower wages compared to male laborers, contributing to time-consuming efforts.
Problem Statement:
Problem Statement:
How can safety measures for laborers be ensured in all operations?
Climatic Instability
Physical strain of Labourers
Price Instability
Technological gap
