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Byadgi-segment chilli (Kaddi)

Byadgi (also spelt Byadagi) is the deep-red, wrinkled, low-pungency chilli segment of north Karnataka — concentrated in Haveri, Dharwad, Gadag and Bellary districts — protected by Geographical Indication registration granted in February 2011 (GI No. 129). The segment is the principal Indian raw material for chilli oleoresin and natural-red-colour extraction.

Key characteristics

  • Trade types: Dabbi (thick, blocky) and Kaddi (slender, ridged)
  • Kaddi fruit length: 10-15 cm
  • Colour: ASTA value around 160
  • Pungency: negligible capsaicin
  • GI status: registered February 2011 (GI No. 129)
  • Annual production: approximately 21,000 tonnes in the Karnataka belt

Cultivation

The University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, serves as the breeding hub for Byadgi material, and trials place Dharwad-grown crops as the highest-yielding and highest-coloured locality. The segment is cultivated mainly in the black-cotton-soil tracts of north Karnataka under rabi conditions. Routine operations follow the chilli package of practices (Practice Chilli Nursery Raising, Practice Chilli Fertilizer Schedule).

Pest and disease profile

Byadgi crops are subject to the same key biotic stresses as other Indian chillies: thrips (Pest Thrips Parvispinus Black Thrips), yellow mite (Pest Mites Chilli), leaf curl virus (Disease Chilli Leaf Curl Virus) and fruit anthracnose (Disease Chilli Dieback Anthracnose).

Adoption and use

Because of its exceptional colour value and very low pungency, Byadgi is the dominant Indian source of natural red oleoresin used by food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. Private hybrids targeting this segment include Syngenta HPH 2043 (Chilli Syngenta Hph 2043) and HPH 5531 (Chilli Syngenta Hph 5531). The wrinkled dry pods are graded and sun-dried using the standard tarpaulin-yard protocol (Practice Chilli Picking Drying).

Chilli Guntur Sannam, Chilli Teja Segment, Chilli Syngenta Hph 2043, Chilli Syngenta Hph 5531, Practice Chilli Picking Drying

References

  1. Byadagi Chilli — Geographical Indication document. origin-gi.com.
  2. Chilli — Spices Board India catalogue. indianspices.com.