Sigandhini indigenous landrace of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.): The resilient savior of India's spice heritage

India, often hailed as the "Spice Bowl of the World," has a rich history intertwined with the cultivation and trade of exotic spices. The arrival of the British in India was largely driven by the allure of these spices, with black pepper reigning as the "King of Spices." For centuries, the Western Ghats region has been a primary hub for black pepper cultivation. However, changing climate patterns and other factors have brought new challenges, particularly for the ruling variety, Panniyur-1, which is susceptible to quick wilt disease, leading to reduced yields and increased prices. Amidst this crisis, a remarkable farmer, Mr. Ramakantha Hegde, and his ancestors from Siddapura Taluk in Uttara Kannada, have conserved an age-old black pepper variety called Sigandhini, renowned for its resistance against wilt diseases and its high bulk seed density. With the support of scientists Mr. Ramakantha Hegde secured "Farmer's Rights" for Sigandhini under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act (PPVFRA). This right grants him the authority to propagate and sell Sigandhini plants across India. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to conserving this heritage variety, Mr. Ramakantha Hegde was recently honoured with the prestigious Plant Genome Savior Award by the Honorable President of India. Today, Sigandhini is gaining popularity among farmers, not only in its traditional cultivation areas but also in non-traditional regions. Farmers are increasingly choosing Sigandhini as a resilient alternative to combat wilt diseases while sustaining the rich legacy of Indian spices. To meet the growing demand for Sigandhini plants, Mr. Hegde has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, on a royalty basis. This partnership ensures the wider availability of Sigandhini plants, promoting its adoption and securing a more resilient future for black pepper cultivation in India.