Includes bibliographical references.

Black pepper occupies a significant position among the various spices in India's history, culture and culinary traditions. India's total black pepper production was 111.17 lakh MT over an area of 44.56 lakh ha and it occupy third position in the world (FAO, 2020). In Meghalaya, black pepper is grown across the area of 1046 ha with a production of 791 MT (GoM, 2021). West Garo and East Khasi Hills are the key black pepper cultivating districts of Meghalaya. Since, Meghalaya having highest productivity in North Eastern states but with very less area and there is not much available literature pertaining to the black pepper cultivation in Meghalaya. Hence, underscoring the above consideration, the subsequent research objectives formulated for the study viz., (1) To work out the economic feasibility of black pepper and (2) To study the problems faced by the black pepper growers. The study was conducted in Shella Bolajang and Mawsynram blocks of Meghalaya. For selecting the sample size from the study area, proportionate random sampling was applied. The total sample size of 74 number of respondents was selected for the study. To achieve the aforementioned objectives, analytical tools like standard cost concepts, economic feasibility measures and Garrett ranking technique were applied. The total cost and net returns of black pepper cultivation were ₹ 116,435.76/farm, ₹ 206251.54/ha and ₹ 43902.08 /farm and ₹ 105916.56/ha respectively. The economic feasibility indices resulted NPV (9% discount rate) as ₹12301.24/farm and ₹ 40018.15/ha, IRR at which the NPV is zero as 18% for farm and 22% for ha, Discounted BCR as 1.2/farm and 1.3/ha, PBP as 6.2 years/ farm and 5.9 years/ ha and BEP as 124Kg/farm and 219 Kg/ha. From the indices measured it was observed that black pepper cultivation is profitable and feasible as subsidiary farm income. The key problems faced by the farmers are Low production, high expenditure on labour, Volatility of output prices and Poor transport facilities. Providing support pertaining to improved infrastructure, access to finance, and market linkages can help to overcome these problems and enhance the production and profitability of black pepper cultivation in Meghalaya.