Climate change impact and water productivity in black pepper and cardamom

Black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) and small cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum Maton) are shade loving spice crops grown mostly in southern states of India viz. Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu mainly in Western Ghats region. Both the crops perform well in higher altitudes and high rainfall regions compared to lower altitudes and low rainfall regions. Nowadays, climate extremities such as floods and droughts, high temperature etc. have become more frequent in the growing regions leading to crop losses, increased incidence of pests and diseases and low yields. In this review, climate change impact on these crops and a few mitigation strategies are discussed. Black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) and small cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum Maton) are shade loving spice crops grown mostly in southern states of India viz. Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu mainly in Western Ghats region. Both the crops perform well in higher altitudes and high rainfall regions compared to lower altitudes and low rainfall regions. Nowadays, climate extremities such as floods and droughts, high temperature etc. have become more frequent in the growing regions leading to crop losses, increased incidence of pests and diseases and low yields. In this review, climate change impact on these crops and a few mitigation strategies are discussed.