Sambalpur: Several social and farmer organisations of Kuchinda have demanded Geographical Identity (GI) tag for Kuchinda red chillies at sub-divisional headquarters in Sambalpur district.
Their plea followed similar demands made for Srimandir rasogola and Kandhmal haldi. Kuchinda is known for its red chilly market yards where the local variety of red hot variety is sold.
Farmers and activists claim that chilly farming has already given that region an identity and its lands are fertile for adopting it as a cash crop.
It is said that the farmers patiently wait for the green chilly to ripen in natural way before they are picked up for sun-drying and marketing. As a result, these chillies are not only hot in taste but also easily identified for their extra length and bright red look.
The local farmers also claim that the chilly is local in origin and has been cultivated in their fields for a long time. It might have been brought there by their forefathers but there is none to claim its origin. So it is established as local to Kuchinda region.
Local farmers are known for their diligence and innovative ideas of farming. They have always preferred green vegetable farming as a cash crop rather than going for traditional paddy crop. That is why vegetable farming is very popular in the region for long.
A veteran farmer Raghu Naik said that the origin of Kuchinda chillies could be traced back to about 150 to 200 years. The well known King Sudhaldev of Bamanda had always promoted horticulture and green vegetable farming during his days as farmlands in the Kuchinda region were found fertile. Even today, century-old orchards of orange, mango and litchi could be found in that region to prove the fact that horticulture has been popular.
Raghu Naik added that their farm produce used to fetch good prices at Calcutta. There were some families who had adopted marketing in Calcutta as their family business. They used to bring back new varieties of seeds to sell among the farmers while selling the farm produces there. The origin of Kuchinda chilly might be linked to that era and those practices.
King Sudhaldev, who ruled from 1868 to 1903, was very fond of fruits and that is why he personally owned four fruit orchards. He was known for his progressive ideas and introduced irrigation facilities at several places in his state those days.
These irrigation facilities then paved way for a flourishing improvised farming in the region and its traces are still found in Deogarh and Barkot areas besides adjoining Kuchinda. A century- old dam at Deogarh speaks volumes of King Sudhaldev’s glorious history. PNN
