Dabhal farmer uses grafting to keep pepper cultivation alive
In the spice gardens of Dabhal in Dharbandora, farmer Sachin Tendulkar, not to be confused with the Indian cricket legend, is a champion of another field. He became known for the in-situ grafting of black pepper, which won him national recognition.
'Goa's black pepper vines are highly susceptible to quick wilt and slow wilt diseases, which often kill the crop within two to three years of planting—leaving farmers with no yield and little incentive to replant. The disease incidents have grown in recent years, so many people have stopped replanting,' Tendulkar said. 'But to tackle this, one must learn the grafting technique or buy good quality grafts.'
This season, he developed 500 grafts on his own farm while training fellow farmers from the taluka in the art of grafting.
He points out that black pepper can easily be grown as an intercrop with coconut and arecanut gardens, providing a source of additional income. 'In an acre, you can grow 600 to 900 arecanut palms. Even if you plant black pepper on just half that space, you can have about 450 vines. This year, prices have gone up to Rs 700 per kg for black pepper,' he said.
Tendulkar also warns against bringing planting material from other regions without caution.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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'When you bring grafts from soils not native to Goa, you bring the disease inoculum too. The pathogens from that soil can enter your garden. But if you plan the cutting without any soil, the cost of disease maintenance and management is reduced,' he said.
Tendulkar was honoured with the Spice Award 2025 by the Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR), Kozhikode, Kerala, last week during the institute's Golden Jubilee celebrations. He was one of only five farmers across India to receive the honour. 'Many people don't take black pepper very seriously, but it can prove to be a very good additional income source for farmers,' he said.
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