THE arrival of dundi-cut red chillies in the main market of Kunri in Umerkot district has started amidst reports of a drop in the crop’s production due to acute water shortage.

According to market reports, the crop’s output is smaller, which has pushed up the price being offered to farmers at the start of the season. The harvesting of the crop, delayed by a month, is expected to pick up pace after mid-September.

The chilli crop loses weight if the required water supply is not ensured. Normally, moderate rainfall helps overcome water shortage in the chilli-growing areas, but its absence hits flowering and fruiting. With the recent spell of rain, growers hope that satisfactory yields would still be possible. However, another spell of heavy monsoon rains (as forecasted), at this stage, when picking has started, could be harmful.

Record shows that heavy rainfall in September usually deals a severe blow to standing kharif crops, as witnessed in 2011, when chillies were washed away in lower Sindh. The harvest from cultivation on 2,588 hectares was only 6,835 metric tonnes. Normally, the crop acreage varies between 30,000 to 40,000 hectares. Last year (2013-14), it was cultivated on 35,000 hectares, which produced 100,000 metric tonnes of the crop.

Owing to slow arrivals, the chilli crop is currently being sold for Rs10,500 per 40kg, but the rate may drop when supplies improve significantly. Until this July, traders with old stocks were selling their 2013-14 crop at Rs6,500 per 40kg

Usually, bags of dundi-cut red chillies start reaching the market by August in sizeable quantities of 2,000 to 2,500 bags of 40kg each. Kunri market traders say hardly 100 to 200 bags now reach the market, and these too are of another variety.

About 50pc of the total crop is grown in areas of Kunri and Naukot in Mirpurkhas district. Both of them are at the tail-end and are fed by the Mithrao canal. The canal emanates from the Sukkur barrage’s Nara canal, while the rest of the crop area is irrigated by other channels of the Nara canal. But the Mithrao canal system bears the brunt of the water shortage, and this is why the prospects of lower chilli yields are worrying growers.

Red Chillies Growers Association President Mian Saleem estimates that the crop’s productivity is bound to be affected by around 30pc this year due to water shortage. He believes that recent rains have proven beneficial as the fruiting ratio has improved and growers now hope to get a somewhat better crop.

Another reason for the drop in acreage was growers’ experience last year, when they received inadequate prices, and the crop was also hit by virus. They opted for cotton crop’s IR901 variety, which survives drought conditions. However, due to a drop in output, farmers would get a higher price and may be encouraged to increase the area for chilli cultivation in the next season.

Owing to slow arrivals, the crop is currently being sold for Rs10,500 per 40kg, but the rate may drop when supplies improve significantly. Until this July, traders with old stocks were selling their 2013-14 crop at Rs6,500 per 40kg.

But the good news, confirmed by Saleem, is that the chronic problem of aflatoxin, considered hazardous for human health, has been controlled. Chillies were picked first and collected in open crates to avoid post-harvest losses. Then crop was kept on a green net sheet for dehydration in yards. It was then covered with another sheet to avoid exposure to dew at night.

Recent laboratory tests showed that the aflatoxin ratio in the crop was between 1.8PPB to 2.8PPB. Previously, the ratio varied between 50PPB to 250PPB. According to Saleem, US and European standards require it to be less than 10PPB and 5PPB respectively. These samples were analysed by the Pakistan Agriculture and Research Council laboratory at Karachi University.

For improving farm practices, USAID, through the Agribusiness Support Fund (ASF), is also working with farmers. They imparted training to 1,000 chilli growers to expose them to practices like treatment of seed before sowing, cautious use of inputs, and picking and post-harvest technology to control losses. The programme aims to help grow a healthy crop and get better returns. Such growers were provided green nets (geo textile net of high density) and they applied the required inputs.

Growers are holding negotiations with companies seeking a premium of Rs300-400 over the market price for crops meeting the required standards.

Published in Dawn, Economic & Business, Sep 15th, 2014