RAHIM YAR KHAN: The cultivation of chilli restarted in some areas of the district as a profitable crop after a long hiatus.

In the ‘70s and ‘80s, Khanpur tehsil, then known as Khanpur Katora, was popular for the production of chilli and its grain market was a large centre for its traders. By the end of the ‘80s, farmers of Khanpur stopped cultivating chilli due to a virus attack on the crop that affected the plants. Farmers switched to cultivating cotton, wheat and sugarcane.

Now almost after 23 years, some farmers resumed cultivation of chilli but this time they were reportedly sowing imported hybrid seed that was available for Rs150,000 per kg. Although local seed was available for Rs300 to Rs400 only, but the problem was that at the stage of flowering a virus attacked the plant from the side of the root and dried it.

The hybrid seed had the power to resist all types of diseases, which was why farmers preferred it.

Jam Rafiq, a farmer in Kot Karam Khan, said he cultivated local chilli in two fields but the yield was not sufficient. He said small farmers could not afford the hybrid seed because of its cost so he sold his crop in the fruit and vegetable market while it was still green.

A vegetable seed dealer, Chaudhry Imtiaz, said the demand for hybrid chilli seed was gradually increasing and was bought mainly by farmers from Bahadurpur Chowk, Fatehpur Punjabian, Iqbalabad, Muhammadpur, Mao Mubarak and Abu Dhabi Road. He said that in an acre chilli yield was approximately 100 to 150 maunds that was reduced to 20 after drying.

He further said farmers sold the super quality dry chilli for Rs8,000 per maund in the grain market, which gave a good profit on the crop. If the agriculture department supported small farmers in providing hybrid chilli seeds on subsidised rates its production could be increased, he added.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2014