004. Warangal Chapata – Telangana’s Tomato Chilli Gets GI Tag 🌶️
Agriculture, GS1 Culture, GS3 Economy & Exports
By IAS Monk / April 4, 2025
🔍 Key Characteristics
- Appearance: Bright red, round like tomato
- Taste: Low in pungency — perfect for pickles & food colouring
- Natural Uses: High demand for oleoresins in food, pharma, cosmetics
- Cultivation Area: ~3,000 hectares in Warangal, Hanmakonda, Mulugu & Bhupalpalli
📅 Cultivation & Harvest
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Harvest Season | February–March |
| Harvest Rounds | 2–3 handpickings |
| Labour Input | Low – due to weak pedicle and sparse pod count per plant |
📈 Economic Boost
- Before GI Tag: ₹300/kg
- Post GI Potential: ₹550/kg
- Beneficiaries: ~20,000 farmers
- Export Growth: Targets US, UK, China, Germany post synthetic dye bans
🧬 Historical & Cultural Roots
- Cultivated for over 80 years
- Handed down by Velama community
- GI application filed in 2022 by local farmer groups & agri institutions
- Now marks Telangana’s 18th GI tag
✨ Closing Whisper
“A fruit that blushes like the sun, yet burns with no anger —
Warangal’s chilli carries the warmth of land, lineage, and legacy.”
