Doubts Persist Regarding Rise in Red Chili Production Despite Increased Sowing

New Delhi: Compared to last year, the area under red chili cultivation is estimated to increase by 20–30% nationwide this year, as farmers in top-producing states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh have focused on expanding the acreage of this key spice crop.

However, there are doubts whether production will rise in proportion to this significant increase in cultivation area. Industry analysts suggest that domestic red chili production for the 2026–27 season will likely remain on par with or see only a marginal increase over the 2025–26 season. This is primarily because the three major producing states in South India—and Karnataka in particular—experienced a severe deficit in monsoon rainfall and high temperatures, factors likely to impact the crop's productivity.

The President of the Guntur-based Chili Exporters Association states that the cultivation area for red chili has expanded by approximately 30% in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and by 25–30% in Karnataka. While recent rains have aided farmers in transplanting seedlings, the threat posed by the El Niño weather cycle remains a concern.

India is the world's leading producer and exporter of red chili. In terms of both volume and revenue, red chili tops the list of India's spice exports and is imported on a large scale by numerous countries worldwide. Harvesting of the new red chili crop begins earlier in Madhya Pradesh compared to the southern states.