What is the hot commodity in Punjab these days? Chilli - both green and dried.
Chilli cultivation is witnessing a major growth in Punjab this year. According to officials, the state is increasing the area under chilli cultivation by around 2,500 hectares. At present the state cultivates chilli in around 10,000 hectares of land.
With the demand rising, farmers in the state have demanded setting up of chilli processing units, which make chilli powder, medicines for the heart, cosmetics and chilli oleoresin.
Though Punjab does not fall under the major chilli growing areas, the state government, farmers and scientists have been encouraging cultivation in the state.
The chilli area would be largely in the Bhikhiwind Khalra area in Tarn Taran district and Shahakot in Jalandhar district.
The state has enterprising farmers like Manmohan Singh Sandhu of Hodla Kalan village in the Mansa, who is known as the chilli king who is providing saplings for transplantation in 150 acres across Punjab, Haryana, UP and Rajasthan.
Sandhu said it was time to start working with the government to have a processing unit. The concept would be new in the region, but it will be very profitable to the farmers and the investor, he said.
Preparing seed of CH-1, a hybrid chilli variety, Sandhu considers chilli cultivation more viable than cotton. Farmers are able to get 100 quintals of red chilli yield and 200 quintals of green chilli yield from one acre and able to earn Rs 60,000 to 90,000 per acre, compared to Bt cotton which give Rs 40,000-50,000 per acre.
Bhikhiwind and Kalra towns have been a strong hub for the sale of both green and red chillies.
