Centre gets cracking on pesticide-free chilli farms
Spices Board plans to work on the commodity on priority basis.
By Gunjan Pradhan Sinha, TNN |
HYDERABAD: The Centre is working on a slew of initiatives for the production of pesticide-free chillies in Andhra Pradesh, which accounts for 75% of the country’s chilli produce. Chillies from the state, which contributes to exports worth $150 million, have been facing quality issues in the markets of the US and Europe.
“As of now, the state is producing about 2,500 tonne chilli, which is pesticide-free. The Spices Board, the Andhra Pradesh government and the Union commerce ministry plan to ramp up the production of pesticide-free chilli or NPM (non-pesticide management) chilli to 75,000 tonne over the next 7-8 years,” Union minister of state for commerce Jairam Ramesh told ET.
In 2005-06, Andhra Pradesh accounted for $150 million chilli exports from India of the total $600 million exports.
The Spices Board will engage as well as train self help groups (SHGs) in NPM. The chilli will be marketed as NPM chilli in both the international and domestic markets as well. This apart, attempts will be made through the SHG network to limit the use of the Sudan Red dye used by farmers to make the chilli powder into a deeper shade of red.
The Spices Board and the AP government are setting up the SHG network jointly. The Spices Board has already committed Rs 40 lakh for setting up the SHG network in the state.
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In addition, the Spices Board plans to invest Rs 20 crore for setting up 50 solar polyhouses in the state. These will be set up in addition to the 50 solar poly houses already operating in the state. Each of these solar houses will be set up at a cost of Rs 40,000 by the board. “Andhra chilli has been facing quality control problems in the US and European markets due to high moisture content, which produces the unhealthy aflatoxin in the chillies,” Mr Ramesh said. Andhra has a number of chilli producing centres with Guntoor being the largest. The board will work with SHGs at all the major centers in the state, the minister added.
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