An unidentified virus has created havoc with the chilli crop in Adilabad district resulting in a two-thirds decrease in the yield. The virus is attacking the leaf affecting its growth which in turn causes shedding of the chilli in premature stage.
“It is affecting flowering in the plants. The flowers are dropping off before reaching maturity,”discloses farmer Kancherla Mallikarjun, who has sown the crop in seven acres near Keslapur in Indervelli mandal.
Mallikarjun has sown the Preeti variety of chillies and his yield has gone down from 30 to 35 quintals per acre to just 10 quintals. The current area under chilli cultivation is 2,990 hectares down by about 500 hectares as compared to last year.
