The 3rd edition of the Naga King Chilli (Raja Mircha) Festival was celebrated on Friday at Seiyhama village, a prominent producer of the fiery Naga King Chilli in Kohima district.
Special guest, director of Horticulture, Meyasashi, in his address, stressed on the importance of developing a strong brand for Naga King Chilli, an iconic crop that has earned international recognition.
He informed that the Naga King Chilli received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2008. He informed that Nagaland’s King Chilli, also known as Naga Mircha, was certified by Guinness Book of World Records in September 2006 for its extreme heat, measured at 10,01,304 Scoville Heat Units (SHU).
Now ranked third globally, he said that the Naga king chilli remains India’s hottest chilli and a significant asset for Nagas. Meyasashi urged the need to create an economic development strategy, encouraging farmers to adopt a more commercial approach. He advised king chilli farmers to keep a track of the exports and imports within the village and analyse what needs improvement.
Reflecting on the 61 years since Nagaland’s statehood, Meyasashi pointed out that the state’s overall economy has seen limited progress. He suggested that beyond harvesting and selling the crop, farmers should explore value-added processes such as capsaicin extraction, which could boost the chilli’s commercial viability.
He also emphasised the need for more value-added training and proposed showcasing Naga Mircha at the annual Hornbill Festival to boost its visibility. The director also highlighted the need to move towards smart horticulture practices to ensure year-round production.
Chairman of the Seiyhama Village Council and convenor of the festival, Lhoulalie Zumu shared how the first Naga King Chilli Festival, held in 2022, gave local farmers a much-needed platform.
He said that farmers, once unaware of the market potential, used to sell the fiery fruit at a nominal rate. Through the annual festival, the farmers have been able to create a market within the village. The event has not only brought greater visibility to the crop but also enabled farmers to understand its true value.
The festival highlighted the cultural and culinary significance of Naga King Chilli, which is a key ingredient in Naga cuisines. However, despite its popularity and potential, the farmers in Seiyhama face numerous challenges. With the last motorable road an hour away from the village, transporting the chilli harvest is a daunting task.
Treasurer of the organising committee, Kelhousilie Thevo informed that in 2024, about 150 households in Seiyhama engaged in Naga King Chilli farming. While a week’s produce weighing 2,400 kg were sold during the festival, the annual harvest is expected to weigh 14,000 kilograms valued at around Rs 70 lakh.
The programme was chaired by Secretary of the Organising Committee, Savio Metha and invocation by Khriezelhou Sopfünuo. Kezhalelhou Metha presented a song and the formal ceremony concluded with the vote of thanks by coordinator of the organizing committee, Lily Metha. The ceremony was followed by the declaration of the festival by the special guest.