Parliament Question: Compensation to Chilli Growers

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1589 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 28th JULY, 2026 COMPENSATION TO CHILLI GROWERS 1589. Shri G Kumar Naik: Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृिष एवं िकसान क(cid:208)याण म(cid:253)ं ी be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has assessed extent of crop damage and yield losses caused by black thrips and other emerging pests in chilli-growing areas of Raichur district and other parts of Karnataka and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether the Government has conducted any assessment of the impact of erratic monsoon patterns, water stress and rising temperatures on chilli cultivation in Raichur and the measures taken to promote climate-resilient cultivation practices and integrated pest management; (c) whether the Government has assessed the increase in the cost of chilli cultivation and the extent of indebtedness among chilli farmers in Raichur and if so, the details thereof; (d) whether the Government proposes to provide any special assistance, compensation or crop protection package for chilli growers affected by pest attacks and climatic stress; and (e) the measures taken or proposed to stabilise chilli prices and protect farmers from severe market fluctuations? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृिष एवं िकसान क(cid:208)याण रा(cid:186)य म(cid:253)ं ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR) (a): Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (ICAR-IIHR), Bengaluru, along with other ICAR Institutes and State Agricultural Universities, has conducted survey during the year 2021 on thrips incidence in chilli-growing areas of Karnataka. Only a small proportion of Thrips hawaiiensis, T. florum, and T. palmi were observed on chilli during the survey period. The dominant thrips species recorded in Raichur during 2021 was Thrips parvispinus, accounting for 94–96% of the total thrips population, followed by T. hawaiiensis (3%), T. florum (1%), and T. palmi (<1%). Thus, T. parvispinus was identified as the predominant thrips species infesting chilli. Based on these findings, various remedial measures, including a management schedule for controlling thrips in chilli, were recommended. The current chilli crop is largely at the nursery stageand no major incidence of black thrips or other emerging pests has been reported so far during the present season in Raichur district. (b): ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru has recommended drought and heat-tolerant varieties/hybrids such as Arka Gagan, Arka Tejasvi and Arka Saanvi with climate-resilient cultivation practices including drip irrigation, mulching, balanced nutrient management and Integrated Pest Management (IPM). State Government has also advised to adopt climate-resilient cultivation practices including the selection of suitable short-duration and climate-resilient chilli varieties such as Krishnaprabha-Rudra and to consider alternative short-duration crops wherever necessary. (c): The State Horticulture Department, Karnataka is aware of the increase in the cost of chilli cultivation due to the rising prices of seeds/seedlings, fertilizers, pesticides, labour, irrigation, machinery and other agricultural inputs. In this regard, while determining the Scale of Finance (SoF) for the year 2026–27, the increased cost of cultivation and various input costs were taken into consideration. Accordingly, the Scale of Finance recommended for chilli cultivation was increased from ₹ 55,884 per acre to ₹ 69,189 per acre. However, specific data regarding the extent of indebtedness among chilli farmers in Raichur district is not available with the State Horticulture Department. (d): The Government has been implementing the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and the Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) to provide financial support to farmers suffering crop loss or damage arising out of natural calamities and adverse weather events. Under PMFBY Government of Karnataka has notified chilli as an insured crop under PMFBY/ RWBCIS. Assistance for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in horticultural crops including chilli, is available under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) @ 30% assistance, with a cost norm of ₹5,000 per hectare for an area of up to 2 hectares per beneficiary. The State Governments undertake relief measures in the wake of natural disasters including pest attack from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), already placed at their disposal, in accordance with Government of India’s approved items and norms. In order to supplement the efforts of the State, additional financial assistance is extended from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), in case of disaster of ‘severe nature’, in accordance with the established procedure. The financial assistance provided under SDRF and NDRF is by way of relief and not for compensation of loss suffered/ claimed. (e): To stabilise chilli prices and reduce post-harvest losses, assistance is available under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) for creation of post-harvest infrastructure including cold storage facilities. These interventions help to reduce post-harvest losses, minimise distress sales and enable farmers to realise better prices.Government is also implementing Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) Scheme to provide medium- and long-term debt financing for developing post-harvest management infrastructure. 1739 units for post-harvest storage structures (Cold Stores and Cold Chain, Silos and Warehouse) have been sanctioned under AIF in Karnataka. Further, to ensure remunerative prices for farmers producing perishable agricultural and horticultural commodities not covered under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) regime, the Government implements the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) under the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA). The Scheme is intended to protect farmers from distress sales during periods of bumper production when market prices fall below economic levels and the cost of production. MIS is implemented at the request of the concerned State/UT Government, subject to the prescribed guidelines including a decline of at least 10% in the prevailing market price compared to the previous normal year. The loss incurred under the Scheme is shared between the Central and State Governments in the ratio of 50:50 (75:25 for North-Eastern States). A new component of Price Differential Payment (PDP) with an option to make direct payment of the price difference between the Market Intervention Price (MIP) and the selling price to the farmers for the crops traded in the notified APMC Mandis has also been added to the Scheme. During 2025-26, MIP of Rs. 105,892.00 per Metric Tonnes with a sanction quantity of 73,732 Metric Tonnes was sanctioned to Karnataka. However, it could not be implemented due to prevailing market price above MIP. ******