Chilli Exports Set To Increase

Kochi: If the current trend in chilli exports is any indication during the current fiscal, in all probability it will repeat or surpass its record performance in the last fiscal and the target set for 2007-08. The country's shipments during April - August 2007-08 stood at 88,000 tonnes valued at Rs 487 crore against 47,294 tonnes valued at Rs 225.81 crore. Chilli exports last fiscal stood at 1,48,500 tonnes valued at Rs 807.75 crore, against 1,13,174 tonnes valued at Rs 403.01 crore in the previous fiscal. The unit value realisation has increased from Rs 36 in 2005-06 to Rs 54 per kg last fiscal and to Rs 55 a kg during April - August 2007-08. Shipments of Indian chilli to the European markets are said to have shown a tangible increase during the current fiscal paving the way for the commodity to establish a monopoly in these markets because of a reported fungus attack on Pakistan's chilli crops and a consequent ban on imports of the commodity by the European Union.

In the past three years, the European Union had prohibited import of red chilli from Pakistan for the presence of aflatoxin. Japan has also stopped import of chilli powder from Pakistan. India is at an advantageous position as the mandatory sampling, introduced by the Spices Board for chilli and chilli products consignments, for the presence of Sudan I - IV and aflatoxin before shipments has boosted the confidence of the overseas purchasers.