All You Need To Know About Byadgi Chilli

Context:

This analysis details the economic distress faced by farmers due to plummeting prices of Byadgi chillies at the Byadgi APMC yard in Haveri, Karnataka, one of India’s largest chilli markets. Beyond the price drop, the piece provides insights into the geographical and agricultural conditions ideal for Byadgi chilli cultivation, making it relevant for understanding regional agriculture, economic stability, and environmental factors in India.

1. Price Decline: Byadgi chilli prices fell from ₹20,000/quintal (2024 peak) to ₹6,000-₹13,000/quintal by March 2025, driven by high arrivals (2 lakh bags daily) and unsold 2024 stock.
2. Farmer Impact: Farmers, like Mounesh Acharya from Ballari, face financial losses, sparking protests and police route marches at Byadgi APMC on market days (Mondays, Thursdays).
3. Geographical Spread: Byadgi chillies are primarily grown in north Karnataka districts—Haveri, Gadag, Dharwad, Ballari—and extend to parts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
4. Climate Suitability: Thrive in semi-arid to arid conditions with temperatures of 20-35°C, typical of Karnataka’s northern plains; require 600-1000 mm annual rainfall, often supplemented by irrigation.
5. Soil Requirements: Prefer well-drained red sandy loam or black cotton soils with a pH of 6.0-7.5, rich in organic matter, common in Haveri and surrounding areas.
6. Land Conditions: Grown on flat to gently sloping lands; need good aeration and drainage to prevent waterlogging, with small to medium farm holdings (2-5 acres) typical.
7. Cultivation Regions: Concentrated in Karnataka’s Byadgi taluk (Haveri), with significant production in Gadag’s rain-fed zones and Ballari’s irrigated fields; also cultivated in Andhra’s Guntur and Telangana’s Khammam.
8. Agricultural Traits: Byadgi chillies are long, wrinkled, deep red, low-pungency varieties (5,000-10,000 SHU), ideal for color extraction and spice blends, sown in June-July, harvested in December-March.
9. Market Significance: Byadgi APMC (78 acres) is a key trading hub; oversupply and demand slump in 2025 underscore vulnerabilities in cash crop economics.

Key Terms:

• Byadgi Chilli: Low-pungency, high-color chilli variety from Karnataka.
• APMC Yard: Agricultural Produce Market Committee site for trading crops.
• Semi-Arid Climate: Dry region with moderate rainfall, suited to chillies.
• Red Sandy Loam: Well-drained soil type ideal for chilli cultivation.

Link To The Original Article – https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/red-hot-byadgi-chilli-stings-farmers-as-prices-fall/article69353825.ece