Red chilli yield severely hit by mid-December rain in Thoothukudi district

Thoothukudi red chilli production halved due to mid-December flooding, impacting farmers' yields and market prices.

The mid-December rain last year that caused severe flooding has halved the production of red chilli in Thoothukudi district. The crop occupies the largest area next to foodgrains in the coastal district.

Red chillies are grown on 16,019 hectares, with 14,386 hectares in Vilathikulam taluk and 978 hectares in Ottapidaram taluk.

“Red chilli is cultivated mostly under rain-fed conditions in black cotton soil known for its water absorption and retention capacity. The crop is raised during the rabi season coinciding with the northeast monsoon between October and December,” says P.N. Ezhil, secretary, marketing committee, Tirunelveli.

The duration of the red chilli crop ranges from six to seven months, yielding 1.20 tonnes per hectare in case of mundu (a short bold variety or gundu vaththal) and two tonnes in the case of samba (a long slender variety) under rain-fed conditions to produce not less than 24,000 tonnes annually. Prices fluctuate depending on demand. However, the average price hovers around ₹150 to ₹180 per kg. The market turnover of red chilli is approximately ₹350 to ₹400 crore per annum.

However, the mid-December downpour has crushed the fortunes of red chilli farmers.

“I got an yield of 35 quintal from five acres last year. But this year, it is only 17 quintals from the same area. I spent ₹60,000 per acre last year, but the expenditure has risen to ₹75,000 this year due to pest attack triggered by rain. The market price also has gone down from last year’s ₹22,000 per quintal to ₹16,000 per quintal,” says M. Balamurugan of Arasankulam in Vilathikulam taluk.

Mr. Balamurugan has also suffered another loss due to flooding in Vaippar river, which has wiped out the red chilli cultivated on another 2.75 acres.