PRODUCTION AND MARKETING PRACTICES OF GROWERS OF BIRD’S EYE CHILLI IN MIZORAM

Abstract: Chilli is one of the most important commercial spice crops of India . There are various uses of chilli, it is used as spice, condiment, culinary supplement, medicine, vegetable and ornamental plant. Chilli is an essential spice because of its pungency, taste, appealing colour and flavor. Bird's eye chilli are small, thin, pointy peppers that are red when mature. India produces about 75 of the 109 varieties which are listed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The most produced and exported spices from India are pepper, cardamom, chilli, ginger, turmeric, coriander, cumin, celery, fennel, fenugreek, garlic, nutmeg & mace, curry powder, spice oils and oleoresins. Out of these spices, chilli, cumin, turmeric, ginger and coriander makeup about 76% of the total production. In the present study, the researcher interviewed the farmers from Champhai, Reiek and West Phaileng in Mizoram growing bird's eye chilli. Bird's eye chilli is a promising spice of Mizoram and has the potential to be widely exported globally. However, marketing practices are still conventional and hence need support from government agencies to enhance markets beyond local and regional level.

Keywords: bird's eye chilli, export, production, marketing practices,Mizoram.