Mr. James Laiju cultivates black pepper in his village Koovapally, a lower valley in the Western Ghats of Kerala. His ancestors have long farmed in the area, tending to the loose nutrient-rich soil—a pale red laterite loam. From a young age, Mr. Laiju marveled at the high quality of black pepper their land naturally nurtured. Unfortunately, as Mr. Laiju’s family joined the masses in using pesticides and artificial fertilizers, their soil lost its original health. That’s when Mr. Laiju returned to his ancestors’ organic practices and founded Eden Bio Farms. He studied Vriksha Ayurveda (science of plant life), which adopts natural agricultural methods to enrich the soil. The traditional science offers guidance toward every farmer’s goal: feeding soil microbes to expel toxins and increase nutrients, all while warding off pests. Like all farmers, Mr. Laiju aims to increase the nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) content of his soil.
Rather than use chemical fertilizers, though, he uses fermented groundnut, sesame and neem cakes, which increase NPK and detoxifies the soil with its antifungal and anti-viral properties. He also treats the soil with a crop enhancer called Kunnappa Jala, a mixture with honey, ghee, and Ayurvedic herbs. To fend off pests, he administers a bio repellant and herbal smoke treatment. With these practices, Mr. Laiju combats lethal fungal diseases like quick wilt and slow wilt, which can destroy an entire farm. Moreover, he does so without tainting his soil with chemicals; he toiled for three years to purge heavy metal contamination, and he continues testing his soil frequently to verify its purity. Although he only uses organic practices, Mr. Laiju faces financial challenges in acquiring a USDA certification. He hopes he can raise enough funds to become certified so that he can promote his techniques, and expand the reach of his black pepper. Farmed naturally & enhanced with Vriksha Ayurveda practices, Laiju Blackpepper is truly a remarkable addition to Prana Kitchens’ collection of Single Origin Spices.