Call to Halt Use of Hazardous Chemicals in Red Chili Cultivation

18-Jun-2026 04:54 PM

Guntur. Consignments of this key spice were rejected by China—the largest buyer of Indian red chilies—after traces of harmful pesticide residues were detected. In light of this, the Chili Exporters Association of India has urged the Andhra Pradesh government to immediately ban the use of high-risk chemicals in the cultivation of red chilies intended for export.

The association warned that if residue levels of these hazardous chemicals in export consignments exceed permissible limits, India’s credibility, reputation, and reliability in the international market could suffer a major blow, with a high risk of severely impacting exports, particularly to China. Exports had already seen a slight decline during the last fiscal year.

In a memorandum submitted to the State Department of Agriculture and Cooperation on June 15, the association noted a rising trend of rejections—or significant delays in quality inspections—for dried red chili consignments sent to global markets (importing countries) from regions including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka. Frequent complaints have emerged regarding samples of export-bound red chilies containing residues of health-hazardous chemicals well above permissible or accepted limits.

The association’s memorandum lists specific harmful chemicals identified as hazardous pesticides and urges the government to ban their use in red chili cultivation. Chemicals such as Acephate and Methamidophos have been specifically highlighted, with a demand to halt their use in the production of red chilies destined for export.

Exporters state that this issue spans the entire supply chain—from the farm to the export shipment—necessitating government intervention at every stage.

They recommend launching awareness campaigns at the village level in major producing districts such as Guntur, Prakasam, Palnadu, Kurnool, and Mandya.