Andhra pushes for red chilli procurement, seeks Centre’s help

Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu met Union Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan at Krishi Bhawan today to discuss the problems faced by red chilli farmers in Andhra Pradesh. Senior officers from the Ministry of Agriculture were also present during the meeting.

Later, while speaking to the media, Rammohan Naidu said that the government of Andhra Pradesh is planning to procure red chillies and urged the Union Agriculture Minister to provide financial support to the state government through various schemes. Shivraj Singh Chouhan responded positively to the request, Naidu said.

Rammohan Naidu also stated that he had handed over a letter from the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Chandrababu Naidu, explaining the problems faced by red chilli farmers, to Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Red chilli farmers in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have been grappling with several challenges, including fluctuating market prices, pest infestations, and unpredictable weather patterns. The two states are major contributors to India's chilli production. Price volatility has led to financial distress among farmers, prompting the state government to consider direct procurement.

In Vijayawada, chilli prices are hovering around ₹10,000 per quintal, which is almost 50 percent lower compared to last year. Farmers are expected to incur losses of up to ₹60,000 per acre due to the sharp decline in prices. Prices started plummeting last month and witnessed a significant fall last week as new stock began arriving in the market.

There have been growing demands for the Central government to set up a Chilli Board, similar to the Tobacco Board, to ensure better prices for red chillies in light of the recent price drop.

Export Problems

This year, a large number of farmers opted for chilli cultivation on a large scale, as stocks had fetched bumper profits over the past three to four years.

However, the export market scenario suddenly changed due to unrest in several countries. Additionally, the new political regime in Bangladesh is believed to have played spoilsport, as it is not accepting imports through the automatic route. Bangladesh is one of the biggest importers of Indian red chillies.

Pest Infestations

Pest infestations, particularly the invasive pest Nalla Tamara (black thrips), have severely affected crop yields, leading to increased production costs due to the need for pesticides and other control measures. Additionally, erratic rainfall and extended dry spells have worsened the situation, impacting both the quality and quantity of the produce.