NCE President to address India’s Global Pepper Conference

This first-of-its-kind event, Global Pepper Conference (GPC) 2016, is organised by the Black Goad League (BGL) and will be held from November 11 to 13, 2016 in Chikmagalur, Karnataka, India, with technical support from the Indian Institute of Spices Research in Kerala, Spices Board of India in Kerala and several private enterprises. 

The event will be inaugurated by Commerce and Industry Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Chemicals and Fertilizer Union Minister Ananth Kumar.
Over the last two years, the BGL has emerged as a dedicated pepper growers’ forum with strong links to the global pepper community. The focus of the BGL is on educating pepper growers on the basic and technical aspects of black pepper from nursery to harvest including best agricultural practices of the world with classroom training and field demonstrations. 

It is noteworthy that the producers of the BGL in Karnataka obtain yields per hectare more than 10 times the Sri Lankan national average per hectare. Also, the Chikmagalur area in Karnataka is one of the best pepper and coffee producing areas in India. The theme of GPC 2016 is ‘Showcasing the intrinsic value of shade grown, eco-friendly, sustainable pepper production with traceability’. It aims at chartering a course to unleash the value of Indian pepper, which is shade grown and eco-friendly with an emphasis on clean and safe pepper with traceability.  

NCE President and Spice Council of Sri Lanka Founder Chairman Sarada De Silva has been invited to participate and address the conference to contribute his valuable scientific, agronomic and technical knowledge as one of the prominent speakers. 

His participation will enrich his experience related to the deliberations at the conference and will be beneficial to all stakeholders of the pepper industry in Sri Lanka.