After fighting deficit rain, chilli farmers heave sigh of relief

Chilli growers in Shanivarasanthe are in a cheerful mood as the crop has fetched a good price. A 15 kg bag of green chilli is priced from Rs 400 to Rs 450 at the shandy on Saturday. For the last six weeks, green chillies are being sold at every shandy. Four to five loads of chillies are being sold outside the state.

The green chillies are cultivated in January and the crop would be ready by March and April.

Deficit rain

Farmer Pavan Kumar from Moodarahalli said, “The region did not experience good rainfall this year. Amid deficit rainfall in March, the yield has come down. With the available water, we have nurtured the plants and the chillies have got a good price in the market. Even if a farmer fetches Rs 300 to 400 per bag of 15 to 20 kg of chillies, the farmer will post profit.”

Pavan Kumar had planted the hybrid Pragathi G4 variety of green chilly on one-acre land by spending Rs 15,000. “Compared to the last five years, the price for chilly is better this year. However, tax, price of petrol and diesel and fertilisers have increased drastically. Without rain, diseases are affecting the plants,” the farmer explained.

Farmer Dodde Gowda said hybrid chilly is highly caustic and fetches prospective price in the market for farmers. Even after four days of plucking, it does not lose its flavour. If it rains, then the yield increases,” he said with pride. Green chillies from Kodagu have demand in Hassan, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Tamil Nadu and Mumbai as well.