This year’s Kharif season bears witness to a peculiar tale in the world of chilli cultivation. Fueled by last year’s favourable prices, the chilli acreage is expanding. However, the delayed monsoon has thrown a wrench into the works, causing setbacks in central-producing states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka. Experts opine that only by mid-September will we gauge the extent of sowing and what the future holds.
One thing is apparent – the monsoon’s delay has hampered chilli sowing in many regions. Farmers, eager to augment their plantations, find themselves in a race against time, but progress could be more active. Reduced acreage could translate to diminished chilli yields, contributing to potential price hikes.
Additionally, there’s an expenditure of $ 361.15 on sowing itself. In cases where irrigation poses a challenge, expenses can soar well beyond the one lakh rupee mark. As a result, the farmers are wary of commencing chilli cultivation this season due to sparse rains. In Telangana, particularly in Khammam and Warangal districts, which are chilli-rich zones, signs of reticence are discernible this season. Andhra region grapples with a monsoon deficit of 25 percent, while Coastal Andhra Pradesh faces a 5 percent shortage.
Conversely, Telangana boasts a surplus of 22 percent thus far. In Karnataka, renowned for its Vyadagi chillies globally, farmers have bolstered their plantations, encouraged by the handsome returns they reaped last year. However, chilli crops languish in other locales, potentially setting the stage for favourable prices for Vyadagi chillies. Apart from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Karnataka showcases a surge in chilli cultivation, particularly in districts like Bagalkot and Bijapur. Experts anticipate a roughly 20 percent expansion in chilli acreage this Kharif season.
In this intricate play of chilli cultivation, the interplay between monsoon’s fickle nature, economic considerations, and farmer choices weaves a story of uncertainty and resilience. Only time will reveal the ultimate course of this spicy saga.