P. K. Venugopalan Nambiar (1924–1996) was an Indian agricultural scientist credited with the development of the first hybrid variety of black pepper in the world, Panniyur-1.
As the Head of Pepper Research Station, Panniyur in Kerala, he developed and released Panniyur-1 for commercial cultivation in 1971.
Venugopalan Nambiar devoted his life for improvement of black pepper to increase the productivity of the crop.
Besides being a scientist, Venugopalan Nambiar was cherished and adored as a leader of the farming community especially in Kerala Although several varieties of Black pepper have been developed and released for commercial cultivation, Panniyur-1 has withstood the test of time and is still the ruling variety in all the states in India where black pepper is grown and also in other black pepper growing countries.
This variety is known to every black pepper grower and is popular in small homestead gardens and in large plantations.