KING CHILLI FESTIVAL

Source: Downtoearth

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Context

The Seiyhama village in Nagaland recently celebrated its third Naga King Chilli Festival. This festival, which began in 2022, has grown into a cornerstone of the village’s cultural and agricultural identity.

About Naga King Chilli

Known locally as raja mircha, the Naga king chilli is among the hottest chillies in the world, reaching over 1 million Scoville Heat Units (SHU). This festival, which began in 2022, has grown into a cornerstone of the village’s cultural and agricultural identity. It belongs to the genus Capsicum of the family Solanaceae.

Significance

It was certified as the world’s hottest chilli in 2006 by Guinness World Records. It received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2008.

Economic Impact

This year's harvest is expected to be about 14,000 kg and thus be capable of earning Rs 70 lakh.

Cultivation

The preparation for agriculture commences as early as December or January with the choice of the bamboo grove. Transplantation of seedlings is done in May, while the harvest season goes on between August and September. It is these traditional methods, along with the way the entire village takes part in agriculture as a commune, that sustains the agricultural economy of the village.

Model for Sustainable Development

It illustrates how community participation, cultural preservation, and agricultural promotion may coexist.

About King Chilli

• Also referred to as Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia), it is a hybrid chilli pepper, grown in Assam, Nagaland, and Manipur.
• It is the offspring of Capsicum chinense and Capsicum frutescens.
• Guinness World Records labeled it the world's hottest pepper with a Scoville Heat Unit rating of over a million SHUs. 
• Capsaicin is responsible for the ghost pepper's penetrating, pungent flavor.

Regional Names

• Bih Jolokia: In Assam, it is also referred to as "Bih Jolokia," meaning 'Poison Chili'.
• Tezpur Chili: Named after the city of Tezpurin Assam.
• Naga Morich: In Nagaland and parts of Manipur.

Military and Security Uses

In 2009, the DRDO announced that they had developed ghost pepper-based hand grenades for riot control.

Sources:

Downtoearth 

PRACTICE QUESTION Q:Consider the following statements in reference to Ghost pepper: 1.It is the hottest pepper in the world. 2. It is sown in the month of December. 3.It received a GI tag in 2008. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? a) 3 only b) 1 and 2 only c) 2 and 3 only d) None Answer: a  Explanation: 1st statement is incorrect: Its reign as the hottest pepper was overtaken by other peppers like the Trinidad Scorpion Butch T and Carolina Reaper. 2nd statement is incorrect: Preparation for cultivation begins in December or January, with farmers selecting bamboo groves for planting. By May, seedlings are transplanted, and the peak harvest occurs between August and September. 3nd statement is correct: Ghost pepper, also known as the Naga chili or Bhoot Jolokia, was granted a Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Government of India in 2008. The GI tag number is 99.