In a major boost to exports of Geographical Indications (GI) products from the Northeast region, a consignment of ‘Raja Mircha’ also referred as king chilli from Nagaland was exported to London via Guwahati by air for the first time on July 28, stated a government press release.
The consignment of king chilli, also considered as one of world’s hottest based on the Scoville Heat Units (SHUs), was sourced from Tening, part of Peren district, Nagaland and was packed at Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)-assisted packhouse at Guwahati.
The chilli from Nagaland got GI certification in 2008.
APEDA, in collaboration with the Nagaland State Agricultural Marketing Board (NSAMB), coordinated the first export consignment of fresh king chilli. APEDA had coordinated with NSAMB in sending samples for laboratory testing in June and July and the results were encouraging as it is grown organically.
Exporting fresh king chilli posed a challenge because of its highly perishable nature.
Nagaland king chilli belongs to genus capsicum of family Solanaceae. Naga king chilli has been considered as one of world’s hottest chilli and is constantly on the top five in the list of the world’s hottest chillies based on the SHUs.
APEDA would continue to focus on the Northeast region and has been carrying out promotional activities to bring the Northeast states on the export map. In 2021, APEDA has facilitated exports of jackfruits from Tripura to London and Germany, Assam lemon to London, red rice of Assam to the United States and Leteku or ‘Burmese grape’ to Dubai.
