Warangal’s Chapata Chilli is Telangana’s first horticulture product to bag GI tag

The unique variety is cultivated in Warangal, Hanamkonda, Mulugu and Jayashankar Bhupalpally districts; the tag will benefit 20,574 farmers

Hyderabad: The famous Warangal Chapata Chilli, also known as ‘Tomato Chilli’, has received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag from the Union government. This is the first horticulture product which got the GI tag and 18th GI registered for Telangana.

Spread over 6,700 acres, the Warangal Chapata Chilli is cultivated in Warangal, Hanamkonda, Mulugu and Jayashankar Bhupalpally districts. Around 10,951 metric tonnes are produced every year and this tag will benefit 20,574 farmers.

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The GI tag would encourage more horticultural products to be filed for GI registration in the coming days, said Dr D Raji Reddy, Vice Chancellor, Sri Konda Laxman Telangana Horticultural University (SKLTGHU).

The GI registration for Balanagar Custard Apple and Armur Turmeric was under process from the University, he said.

The GI application for Warangal Chapata Chilli was filed by Thimmampet Chilli Farmer Producer Company Limited, Janna Reddy Venkat Reddy Horticultural Research Station, Mahabubabad district, and SKLTGHU in 2022

Resolute4IP founder and GI practitioner Subhajit Saha helped with the legal and statutory compliances along with scientist Dr Bhaskar, who worked on technical requirements needed for the GI registration.

According to Saha, with GI tag the Warangal chilli farmers can now market their produce with higher price from current Rs 300 per kg to Rs 450-Rs 500 per kg. Packaging and branding will play a big role in the marketing of this chilli, he said.

Given its blocky and tomato shape, the Warangal Chapata Chilli is also called ‘Tomato Chilli’. The fruits of this horticulture product are bright red in colour, bold and thick-walled cultivars and characterised by less pungency and high colour traits.

Currently, Warangal Chapata Chilli has three types of fruits namely the single Patti, double Patti and Odalu. This chilli is under cultivation in the villages of Nagaram in Jammikunta mandal for more than 80 years while Nadikuda village and mandal could be the oldest source.