Fresh green chilli plantation starts harvesting in ChaungU

The local growers from ChaungU township, Sagaing region started harvesting their fresh green chilli from cropland, it is learnt.
“Currently, the fresh chilli is priced at K2,500 per viss. The farmers should grow the chilli, which is a staple food in Myanmar cuisine. The prices of chilli are highly profitable and it is convenient for the growers. The chilli is popular among the customers and it is selling well in the local market. We have to grow the seeds for one month to move them into the nurseries. After harvesting, the growers are sold them at the chilli depot,” said Daw Khine, the chilli grower from Mangyigwa village.
This year, the Tharmo chilli plantations with irrigated water are earning the growers a higher profit. ChaungU township mostly cultivates Tharmo-11 and Tharmo-15 chilli species. The township cultivates over 2,000 acres of chilli in monsoon and cold seasons, according to the ChaungU Township Agriculture department.
“The farmers are urged to provide the fertilizers systematically to improve chilli yield and quality. Then, the departmental staff conducted field awareness to the local farmers to make natural compost EM bokashi, to irrigate systematically and to use a natural antibiotic,” said Daw Khin Myat Myat Oo, the head of ChaungU Township Agriculture department.
The chilli seeds are planted two feet apart. More than 7,200 chilli plants can be harvested per acre and it can be started harvesting after 60 days. Then, the chilli can be picked up every 15 days. The fresh chilli has been produced around 4,000 visses and earned a profit of K2.5 million and K3 million per acres. —Lu Lay/GNLM