The Hindu Business Line : Curb aflatoxin residues, chilli farmers told

Guntur, March 2 Chilli farmers in the country, especially in Andhra Pradesh, the major chilli producer, should be mindful of aflatoxin residues in the crop, as such residues adversely affect the exports of the crop, according to Mr R. Chandra Sekhar, Director of the Spices Board.

Post-harvest tech

He was speaking here on Sunday at an interactive session with the chilli farmers, conducted by the Spices Board. He said the country was able to export only about 1.5 lakh tonnes of chilli out of the total production of 7.5 lakh tonnes. Proper post-harvest techniques should be employed. “In particular, the farmers should take great care in drying the crop and handling it, after harvesting it.

Poly driers should be employed for the purpose. Sprinkling of water on the crop is also a bad practice,” he pointed out.

He said the Spices Board would hold many such meetings to educate the farmers and extend all help to them to boost exports.

Testing lab

Mr R. Sambasiva Rao, Member of Parliament from Guntur, said the Spices Board should expedite the setting up of a chilli testing lab in the Agricultural Market Committee.

The farmers and the trade are finding it difficult to send the samples to the lab at Kochi.

Land possession

He also said the Spices Board should also take immediate possession of 124 acres of land allotted by the State Government for setting up a spices park and a lab. He urged the board to expedite work in this regard.

Mr Mohammed Ali Rafath, District Collector, echoed the same opinion.

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