After a sluggish start, the transplantation of fiery red chillies is ablaze in the key spice-producing states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The September rains have breathed life into the fields, igniting hope among stakeholders—the precipitation boon, though a game-changer, hasn’t entirely washed away concerns. While transplantations are gaining momentum, lower water reserves in critical reservoirs remain a persistent worry.
A sunnier outlook
The revival in chili transplantation has lit up the spirits of agrochemical vendors. Dry spells and water scarcity had dampened expectations earlier, but now the outlook is sunnier. The southward shift towards completion has rekindled optimism. The crop’s health is robust in Karnataka, where chilli acreage has expanded this year. Regions like Hubballi, Bellary, and Bagalkot are thriving. Intermittent rains have favored the crop, with no significant reports of black thrips or the dreaded leaf curl virus.
While the overall acreage may hold steady or marginally grow, the red chilli stocks in producing regions mirror last year’s figures. The actual harvest size awaits cues from the November and December rains, leaving the spice world on edge. China, the behemoth buyer of this fiery spice, holds the key to market dynamics. A surge in Chinese demand would spice up prices, currently simmering steadily
In the final tally for 2021-22, India’s red chilli production stood at 1.836 million tonnes, cultivated across 0.882 million hectares. Green chillies flourished on 0.427 million hectares, yielding 4.7 million tonnes of spice. The chilli industry eagerly anticipates China’s call to turn up the heat in the spice market.