Hyderabad: The Warangal Chapata Chilli has officially received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. This is the 18th GI tag awarded in Telangana and the first ever for a horticultural product from the state.
With this recognition, around 6,738 acres of land in Warangal, Hanumakonda, Mulugu, and Bhupalapalli districts are now growing this special chilli. These areas produce about 10,951 metric tons every year.
According to Dr. Danda Raji Reddy, Vice Chancellor of Sri Konda Laxman Telangana Horticultural University, nearly 20,574 farmers are expected to benefit from the GI tag. The Warangal Chapata Chilli is known for its bright red color and thick, firm walls. Locally, it is called “tomato chili” because it looks like a tomato with its round, block-like shape.
There are three main types of this chilli: single patti, double patti, and odalu. The chilli has been grown in the village of Nagaram, in Jammikunta mandal, for over 80 years. It likely originated from Nadikuda village and later spread to neighboring villages, especially among the Velama community through seed sharing.
Dr. Raji Reddy said that this recognition would encourage more horticultural products from Telangana to apply for GI tags. Currently, the process is underway for Balanagar Custard Apple and Armur Turmeric. The legal process for the chilli’s GI registration was handled by Subhajit Saha, a GI expert and founder of Resolute4IP, along with Dr. Bhaskar, a scientist who managed the technical details.
Subhajit Saha explained that with the GI tag, farmers could sell the chilli at higher prices, increasing from the current ₹300 per kg to ₹450–500 per kg. He emphasized the importance of proper packaging and branding to help market the chilli and ensure all registered producers benefit.
The official GI application, numbered 984, was submitted in 2022 by the Thimmampet Chilly Farmer Producer Company Limited, the Janna Reddy Venkat Reddy Horticultural Research Station (JVR HRS) in Mahabubabad, and Sri Konda Laxman Telangana Horticultural University.
The Thimmampet Chilly Farmer Producer Company Limited welcomed the news. Its president, Rajkumar Reddy, said the GI tag would help improve the lives of chilli farmers by opening up new markets and export opportunities.
