China Rejects Indian Chilli Over Pesticide Residue: Andhra Farmers Seek Urgent Action

The rejection of Indian chilli consignments by China due to detected pesticide residue has stirred concern among exporters and farmers in Andhra Pradesh, prompting calls for stronger monitoring and safer farming practices ahead of the sowing season.

The consignments were found to contain traces of Methamidophos, a pesticide whose maximum residue limit (MRL) in spices is set at 0.1 mg/kg under the internationally recognised Codex Alimentarius standards established by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Exporters in Guntur, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the rejections have heightened anxiety, especially as farmers prepare for the monsoon sowing. They have urged the government to strengthen monitoring mechanisms and promote scientific pesticide usage to secure export markets.

Anan Debbarma, Deputy Director of the Spices Board at the Guntur Regional Office, stated that the Board has been conducting post-harvest quality improvement programmes in collaboration with stakeholders and agricultural scientists to enhance export quality. He noted that different countries maintain varying standards and import parameters, but advised farmers to strictly follow pesticide recommendations from agriculture and horticulture experts to minimise residue levels.

However, Guntur Agriculture Market Committee (AMC) Chairman Kurra Appa Rao pointed out the difficulty in tracing the origin of the rejected consignments because the Guntur market yard receives produce from multiple states in South India. He said efforts are underway to ensure pesticide residue-free chilli.

Addressing farmers at Lingamguntla village in Palnadu district, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu emphasised the need for safer cultivation practices. “Three chilli containers exported from our region have been rejected by China due to pesticide residue concerns. If our produce has to reach international markets, we must adopt safer cultivation practices and move towards natural farming,” he said.

Data from the Spices Board shows that India exported 17.34 lakh tonnes of spices and spice products worth ₹39,140 crore (US $4.43 billion) in 2025-26, compared to 17.99 lakh tonnes valued at ₹39,994 crore (US $4.72 billion) in 2024-25—a decline of 4% in volume, 2% in rupee terms, and 6% in dollar value. Chilli remains the leading contributor, accounting for 27% of total export earnings, followed by cumin (12%) and spice oils and oleoresins (12%). China accounts for 12% of India's spice exports, making it the second-largest market after the United States.