Lok Sabha Question No. 1250 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-27
Subject: Armour Chilli
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1250

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 27 TH  JULY, 2021

## ARMOUR CHILLI

## 1250. SHRI LAVU SRI KRISHNA DEVARAYALU:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि और ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  Armour  chilli  seeds  have  high  yield  and  disease  resistance  capability compared to other varieties of chilli seeds;
- (b) the average price of armour chilli seeds, per State, in the last five years;
- (c) the quantity of armour chilli seeds supplied, per State, in the last five years;
- (d) whether the supply of armour chilli seeds is adequate to fulfill demand; and
- (e) if not, the steps taken by the Government to increase production and availability of armour chilli seeds, particularly in Andhra Pradesh?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF AGRICUTLRURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ षि और ककसान कल्याण मंत्री

(

SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR )

(a) Armour  chilli  is  a  high  yielding  chilli  F1  hybrid  with  tolerance  to  leaf  curl  virus (LCV).  Armour  chilli  is  the  name  given  to  an  F1  Hybrid  Chilli  developed  by  a  Private Company M/s Nunhems Seeds (BASF) Company, registered in Telangana State.

As per the company information, Armour is preferred for pungency and fruit drying quality. It is early maturing, has good yield potential and high disease tolerance against leaf curl virus. Fruits are large, straight, green on fresh and attractive red at ripe maturity.

However, during 2020, ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru identified a new chilli F1 hybrid Arka Tejasvi (H41) for release. The hybrid has performed consistently at par with Armour chilli for yield, fruit quality and tolerance to leaf curl virus (LCV) for two years when evaluated at the Institute. This year (2021), large scale seed production of Arka Tejasvi has been taken up for distribution to KVKs and Institutes to study Arka Tejasvi performance across the  Country.  Arka  Tejasvi  (H41)  has  also  entered  into  AICRP  (Vegetable  Crops)  and state varietal trials (MLTs).

ICAR-IIVR, Varanasi has also developed few advanced lines of chilli tolerant to leaf  curl  virus  and  could  be  of  export  potentiality.  These  lines  are  used  for  developing hybrids in chilli.

- (b) So far as the price of seed of armour chilli is concerned, there is no mechanism to fix the price of seed of any crop other than BT Cotton Seed. However, average price of armour chilli seeds could be Rs. 900-1200 per 10 g seeds as per the information from company sources i.e M/s Nunhems Seeds (BASF) Company.
- (c) The company released this F1 hybrid in 2019. Therefore, 5-year data may not be available with the company.

Moreover, Armour chilli is not a notified variety.  Hence it is not in seed production chain.

(d) Armour chilli is not a notified variety, hence it is not in seed production chain. This hybrid is from a private Company and its distribution and supply is coordinated by the Company.

- (e) Not applicable.

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