After China says no, exporters urge Andhra Pradesh to curb high-risk pesticides in chilli

Account subscription benefits alongside Premium Stories, Editorials, Opinions and more. Unlock these with Subscription

The View From India Looking at World Affairs from the Indian perspective.

First Day First Show News and reviews from the world of cinema and streaming.

Today's Cache Your download of the top 5 technology stories of the day.

Data Point Decoding the headlines with facts, figures, and numbers

Health Matters Ramya Kannan writes to you on getting to good health, and staying there

The Hindu On Books Books of the week, reviews, excerpts, new titles and features.

A worker atop a heap of dry chillies in Guntur. File | Photo Credit: G.N. Rao

The Chillies Exporters Association, India, has urged the Andhra Pradesh government to immediately ban or restrict the use of high-risk pesticide molecules in export-oriented chilli cultivation, warning that recurring pesticide residue violations could threaten India’s position in key international markets, particularly in China.

In a representation submitted to the State’s Agriculture, Sericulture, Cooperation and Marketing Department on June 15, the association said export consignments of Indian dry chillies, especially from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka, were increasingly facing rejection, delays and enhanced scrutiny because of pesticide residues exceeding permissible limits.

The association, led by its president Velagapudi Sambasiva Rao and general secretary Thota Ramakrishna, identified Methamidophos, Acephate, Monocrotophos, Profenofos, Triazophos, Ethion, Chlorpyrifos and Fipronil as molecules of concern. It specifically sought a ban on the use of Acephate and Methamidophos in chilli crops intended for export.

Describing the issue as a “farm-to-export supply chain problem”, the exporters called for immediate intervention at the production, advisory, testing, procurement and policy levels. They proposed a residue-compliant chilli production protocol in consultation with the Spices Board, agricultural universities, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and plant protection authorities.

The association recommended village-level awareness campaigns in major chilli-growing districts such as Guntur, Palnadu, Prakasam, Kurnool and Nandyal, along with pre-harvest residue testing, lot-wise sampling and stricter monitoring of pesticide dealers.

Mr. Ramakrishna told The Hindu that chilli cultivation should strictly adhere to recommended pesticide dosages under Integrated Pest Management (IPM). He added that farmers should follow Integrated Nutrition Management (INM), Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and In