Chilli farmers in Punjab feel the heat as prices of seed go up every year

Chilli farmers Manpreet Singh, who grows chilli on 90 acres, Lakhwinder Singh, Shamsher Singh, all from Ferozepur, which has the highest area under chilli cultivation in the state, have the same story to tell.

Farmers said that they purchase the ‘8307’ variety seed, which is very popular among farmers ever since it came on the market around six years ago. They said that this seed, which is developed by United Genetics company, is not available anywhere in the state, except with only one dealer and because of his monopoly they end up paying a lot more for this seed variety every year.

They added that they have complained to the Punjab government and hoping that soon government will provide some relaxation to them.

“Our only demand is that there should be at least 5-6 authorised dealers in the state so that farmers have the option to purchase the seed at a competitive price. A government representative told us that if there are more dealers, the price will automatically get controlled. Else, there will be an increase of Rs 6000 to Rs 8,000 per kg every year,” said Balwinder, who sows chilli on 15 acres and wants to increase it to 20 acres.

Balwinder, who is into clilli farming since 2000, said, “Only 6 acre are my own and the rest I have taken on lease at the rate of Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000 per acre.”

Though Punjab Agriculture University (PAU) in Ludhiana has developed chilli seed but that is sown in February and the farmers prefer the November crop. While Balwinder needs around 2 kg chilli seed for himself, he also prepares a chilli nursery to supply the seedlings to other farmers.

For growing chilli in one acre, around 100 to 120 gm seed is required. Once the nursery is 45-day-old, it is transplanted to the field by making a raised bed. Nearly 13,500 seedlings are transplanted in one acre. The transplanting starts in November and the first picking of green chilli starts in the first week of April.

If the farmers has to sell the red chilli (non-dry) then the first picking starts from the second week of May. For green chilli, 7-8 pickings take place between April and August first week. However, for red chilli, only 3-4 pickings take place.

From one acre, farmers get 250 to 300 quintal green chilli and if they have to pick red chilli then the same chillies’ harvest come down to 100 to 120 quintals. And if they have to sell the dried chilli then the yield would come to 20 to 22 quintals per acre. As far as rate is concerned, they get average rate around Rs 15 per kg for fresh greenchilli, Rs 30 to 35 kg for fresh red chilli and Rs 150 per kg for dried red chilli.

On an average, farmers fetch around Rs 3 to 3.5 lakh if the demand is good, and of this, around Rs 80,000 is expenditure per acre. The farmers can safely earn Rs 2 lakh per acre.

Meanwhile, chilli growers are a big example of diversification. After chilli harvesting, they take Basmati crop then from basmati crop also then can earn around Rs 36,000 to Rs 40,000 per acre after meeting the expenses. While from wheat and paddy cycle, farmers can earn between Rs 80,000 and Rs 85,000 per acre from both the crops after meeting the input cost.

Balwinder said that a couple of months ago, they formed Mirch Kisan Sangh, a group of chilli growers who help small and marginal farmers by providing seedlings and purchasing their crop at a decided MSP of Rs 28 to 34 per kg for two varieties of red chillies. “We then sell it further not only in Punjab but also in Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Gujarat. This year, nearly 10,000 acres area will increase under chilli cultivation because of the good rate last year and high demand of Punjab’s chilli,” he said, adding that currently around 25,000 acre is under chilli crop.

Lakhwinder added, “We have to bear rental costs too and that is quite high and the high price of seed is putting unnecessary burden on them.”