Green Chilli

Chilli is one of the most important commercial crops of India. It is grown almost throughout the country. There are more than 400 different varieties of chillies found all over the world. It is also called as hot pepper, cayenne pepper, sweet pepper, bell pepper, etc. It’s botanical name is “Capsicum annuum”. The world’s hottest chilli “Naga Jolokia” is cultivated in hilly terrain of Assam in a small town Tezpur, India. Different varieties are grown for vegetables, spices, condiments, sauces and pickles. Chilli occupies an important place in Indian diet. It is an indispensable item in the kitchen, as it is consumed daily as a condiment in one form or the other. Among the spices consumed per head, dried chilli fruits constitute a major share. Currently, chillies are used throughout the world as a spice and also in the making of beverages and medicines. If some varieties of chillies are famous for red colour because of the pigment ‘capsanthin,’ others are known for biting pungency attributed to ‘capsaicin.’ India is the only country which is rich in many varieties with different quality factors. Chillies are rich in vitamins, especially in vitamin A and C. They are also packed with potassium, magnesium and iron. Chillies have long been used for pain relief as they are known to inhibit pain messengers, extracts of chilli peppers are used for alleviating the pain of arthritis, headaches, burns and neuralgia. It is also claimed that they have the power to boost immune system and lower cholesterol. They are also helpful in getting rid of parasites of gut.

The fruit of chilli or Capsicum plants have a variety of names depending on place and type. It is commonly called chilli pepper, red or green pepper, or sweet pepper in Britain, and typically just capsicum in Australian and Indian English. The large mild form is called bell pepper in the US and Canada. It is called paprika in some other countries (although paprika can also refer to the powdered spice made from various capsicum fruit). The original Mexican term, chilli (now chile in Mexico) came from the Nahuatl word chilli or xilli, referring to a larger Capsicum variety cultivated since 3000 BC, as evidenced by remains found in pottery from Puebla and Oaxaca. It is universally called by different names such as Pimenton, Puvre de Guinee, Filfil Ahmar, Paprika, Spaanse Peper, Peperone, Pimento, Struchkovy pyeret, Togarashi, Hesiung Yali chiao, Lal-mirch,etc.

In Indian subcontinent, chillies are produced throughout the year. Two crops are produced in kharif and rabi seasons in the country. Chilli grows best at 20–30°C. Growth and yields suffer when temperatures exceed 30°C or drops below 15°C for extended periods. The crop can be grown over a wide range of altitudes from sea level upto nearly 2100 meter.

Major chilli producing countries

Chilli is raised over an area of 1832 thousand hectares in the World, with a production of 2959 thousand tons. Major chilli growing countries are – India, China, Indonesia, Korea, Pakistan, Turkey and Sri Lanka in Asia; Nigeria, Ghana, Tunisia and Egypt in Africa; Mexico, United States of America in North – Central America; Yugoslavia, Spain, Romania, Bulgaria, Italy and Hungary in Europe and Argentina and Peru in South America. India is the world leader in chilli production followed by China and Pakistan. This shows that the bulk share of chilli production is in Asian countries, though it is Countrywise production . produced throughout the world. The top 10 chilli producing countries, India, China, Ethiopia, Myanmar, Mexico, Vietnam, Peru, Pakistan, Ghana and Bangladesh. accounted for more than 85% of the world production in 2009, The lion’s share is taken by India with 36% share in global production, followed by China (11%), Bangladesh (8%), Peru (8%) and Pakistan (6%). India, the largest producer of chillies, is having annual (Source : FAO) chilli production of around 14 lakh tonne, China with a production of around 4.5 lakh tons, Mexico with the production of around 4 lakh tons and Pakistan producing 3.5 lakh tons of chilli are other major producer of chillies.

Major Chilli Producing States in India

India is not only the largest producer but also the largest consumer of chilli in the world. Chillies are the most common spice cultivated in India. Chilli is a universal spice of India. It is cultivated in all the States and Union Territories of the country. India contributes about 36% to the total world production. In India, Chillies are grown in almost all the state through out the country. Andhra Pradesh is the largest producer of Chilli in India and contributes about 26% to the total area under Chilli, followed by Maharashtra (15%), Karnataka (11%), Orissa (11%), Madhya Pradesh (7%) and other states contributing nearly 22% to the total area under Chilli.

Major markets of Chilli producing states

Andhra Pradesh

Guntur, Warangal, Khammam, Krishna, Prakasham, Hyderabad, Pundur Nizamabad, Cuddpah, Rajamundry, Nellore, Srikakulam, Vijaynagaram, , Paddapallim, Eluru, Tadepalligudem, Pittapuram, Jagital and Prakasam.

Assam

Silchar, Kamarup, Guwahati, Barapeta, Karbi

Goa

Maragoan, Ponda, Mapua, sattri, bicholim

Karnataka

Dharwad, Mysore, Hasan, Bangalore, Bellary, Ranibennur, Hubli, Gadag, Byadgi

Madhya Pradesh

Indore, Khargone, Jabalpur, Katni, chindwara, Khandwa, Gwalior, Morena, Bhind, Bhopal

Maharashtra

Nagpur, Nasik, Ahmednagar, Sholapur, Aurangabad Nanded Lasalgaon Amravati, Dhulia, Chandrapur, JalgaonAnjangaon, Morshi, Dandaichi, Chimur, Amainer, Achalpur and Sangli

Punjab

Amristar, Nabha, Patiala, Sunam

Rajasthan

Jodhpur, Ajmer, Bhilwara, Pali, Sikar, Bharatpur, Swaimadhopur

Tamil Nadu

Coimbatore, Ramanathapuram, Tuticorin, Tirunelveli, Virudunagar, Kanayakumari, Salem, Trichi, Villupuram, Cuddalore Pollachi, Arialur, Madurai, Theni, Podukottai, Pattukottai, Tanjaur, Pollachi, Thindivaram, and Virudhachalam.

Uttar Pradesh

Orai, Jhansi, Ramnagar, Ujhani, Lucknow Bareily, Khurja.

West Bengal

Coochbehar, Haldibari, Dinhata, Mathabhanga, 24 paraganas Gonheta, Amalgora, Salboni, Sat Bankura, Maynaguri, Falakata Dhupguri Dinajpur and Jhargram.

Orissa

Bhubaneswar, Jagat Singhapur, Cuttack, Jaleswar and Baripada.

Gujrat

Dahod, Jhalod, Gonded, Banankanta, Rajkot