Rejection of chilli consignments by China raises concern among exporters, farmers in Andhra Pradesh

Detection of pesticide residue successful the Indian chilli consignments rejected by China has raised interest among exporters successful Andhra Pradesh, prompting calls for urgent involution to guarantee residue-free accumulation up of the ongoing sowing season.

Exporters successful Guntur, connected information of anonymity, accidental that the rejected consignments person been recovered to contain traces of ‘Methamidophos’. This has heightened anxiousness among exporters and farmers alike.

With the farmers preparing for sowing during the existent monsoon season, exporters person urged the authorities to fortify monitoring mechanisms and beforehand technological pesticide usage to safeguard export markets.

Codex standards

According to the Codex Alimentarius, an internationally recognised food standards programme established jointly by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), the maximum residue bounds (MRL) for Methamidophos in spices is 0.1 mg/kg.

The Codex defines MRL arsenic the highest level of pesticide residue legally permitted in nutrient erstwhile pesticides are applied in accordance with he Good Agricultural Practices.

Speaking to The Hindu, Anan Debbarma, Deputy Director, Spices Board, astatine the Guntur Regional Office, said the the Board had been conducting post-harvest prime improvement programmes for the farmers with the enactment of stakeholders and cultivation scientists to heighten export quality.

Mr. Debbarma said antithetic countries maintain varying standards and import parameters depending connected the home requirements.

Referring to the caller reports on chilli exports to China, Mr. Debbarma said helium could not remark connected the contented without authoritative connection from higher authorities. However, he advised farmers to use pesticides strictly based connected recommendations from the agriculture and horticulture experts to minimise residue levels.

On the different hand, Guntur Agriculture Market Committee (AMC) Chairman Kurra Appa Rao, who convened a gathering with the exporters connected June 19, said they had been putting efforts to guarantee pesticide residue- free chilli.

“Since farmers from assorted States successful South India bring their produce to the Guntur AMC, which is wide regarded arsenic the largest chilli market yard, it is hard to hint the root of the circumstantial consignments that person been rejected by China,” observed traders.

Data disposable with the Spices Board showed that India had exported 17.34 lakh tonnes of spices and spice products worthy ₹39,140 crore (US $4.43 billion) during 2025-26 arsenic against 17.99 lakh tonnes valued astatine ₹39,994 crore (US $4.72 billion) successful 2024-25, registering a diminution of 4% successful volume, 2% successful rupee terms, and 6% successful dollar value.

Chilli remained the starring contributor to India’s spice export basket, accounting for 27% of full export earnings, followed by cumin and spice oils, and oleoresins astatine 12% each. China accounted for 12% of India’s spice exports, making it the country’s second-largest marketplace aft the United States.

Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, portion addressing the farmers astatine Lingamguntla colony of Chilakaluripet mandal successful Palnadu territory connected Saturday, said, “Three chilli containers exported from our portion person been rejected by China owed to pesticide residue concerns. If our nutrient has to scope planetary markets, we indispensable follow safer cultivation practices and determination towards earthy farming.”