Mr. Joseph from Idukki district of Kerala state is a marginal farmer with 2.5 acres of land. Pepper is the main crop cultivated in the area . The problem of scales is a serious threat to pepper. He found an innovative method for preventing the scales in pepper.
Tapioca, the starchy root is preserved in Kerala by drying normally in the sun. before putting it to dry, Tapioca is hard boiled in water.

Mr Joseph found that the remaining water in the vessel used for boiling does not cause serious burns. Because of the sticky nature of the water, he thought it would stay on the leaves of the Pepper killing the scale germs.