In Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu, chili prices have skyrocketed to unprecedented levels, hitting over 20,000 rupees per quintal for Mundu and Samba varieties in the open market. This surge comes as farmers grapple with devastating crop losses.
Officials attribute the price hike to shrinking cultivable land, rampant pest attacks, and prolonged drought conditions. Local growers are urging the Tamil Nadu government to declare drought relief to compensate for mounting damages.
Chili remains the district’s premier horticultural crop, with around 13,500 hectares under cultivation this year—a sharp drop from 15,050 hectares last year. Horticulture department sources point to severe fungal diseases from the previous season as the main culprit, which slashed yields and discouraged expansion.
As harvest season kicks off, scanty arrivals in markets have doubled prices from normal levels. Veteran farmer and exporter M. Ramar notes that Mundu chili, typically fetching 13,000-20,000 rupees per quintal, is now trading at 25,000-36,000 rupees. Samba varieties have jumped from 12,000-15,000 to 20,000-25,000 rupees per quintal.
Market data shows regulated prices mirroring this trend: Samba at 220 rupees per kg and Mundu reaching 360 rupees per kg—nearly double seasonal averages. Farmers blame pest infestations, fruit rot diseases, and drought for the low output.
Senior horticulture officials confirm over 2,500 hectares of chili crops have been hit by pests, with drought exacerbating losses. Farmer Ayyappan shared, ‘Only those with reliable irrigation or who could afford water tankers saved their crops. The rest faced heavy losses.’
This crisis underscores the vulnerability of spice farming in the region, prompting calls for better pest management, irrigation infrastructure, and government support to stabilize supplies and prices in the coming months.