CNI News
14 Mar 2023
As chili prices are high both in the domestic and export markets in the 2023 chili cultivation season, chili farmers have been able to reap profits this year, according to farmers.
At present, wet chili prices stand at more than MMK 3,000 per viss and wet chilies are exported to China and Thailand, Chili Farmer Ko Min Khaing from Ayeyarwady Region, which has been selling chilies to exporter since the beginning of the chili harvesting season, told the CNI.
He told the CNI, "Chili prices have been hovering above MMK 3,000 per viss for nearly a month. Chili prices first rose and then dropped to MMK 2,000 per viss for five or six days. Then, the prices have risen again gradually. High quality chillies can even fetch as much as MMK 4,200 per viss. Normal quality chili prices have been hovering above MMK 3,000 per viss. During previous years, we did not get such prices. We have been selling chillies unceasingly since the harvest. Dried chili prices have also risen to over MMK 10,000 per viss or more than MMK 100,000 per viss. Farmers have been able to reap profits. This is the best year for chili farmers."
Chili plants
In 2020-2021, wet chilie prices stood between MMK 1,100 and MMK 1,200 per viss and dried chilies were traded between MMK 3,700 and MMK 3,800 per viss.
In 2023, wet chili prices hit between MMK 2,500 and MMK 420 per viss while dried chili prices are as high as more than MMK 10,000 per viss.
Although chilies require more fertilizer and pesticide than other crops, chili farmers, whose plantations were not destroyed by pests, have been able to enjoy profits as much as MMK 3 million per acre due to high prices, according to a chili farmers in Ayeyarwady Region.
He said, "Chili farmers, who spent between MMK 2.5 million and 3 million per acre, can get a profit of MMK 4 million per acre at the current prices. Profits also depend on feeds and care of plants.
A chili plantation
Those who took care of their plans can enjoy a profit of as much as MMK 4 million per acre. As far as I know, no chili farmers suffered losses this year.
Myanmar chilies are mainly exported to Thailand, China and Malaysia and commonly cultivated in Ayeyarwady Region and Mandalay Region.
As there are different varieties of chillies, chili farmers will be profitable if they grow export varieties. As chili prices are higher, farmers are likely to expand their chilie plantations in the upcoming cultivation season while somes farmers will carry out chili cultivation instead of the usual crops as some corn farmers are preparing to grow chilies rather than corn, according to chili farmers.
