Chilli farmers in Sindh are set to benefit from a new initiative to improve the quality and safety of locally grown red chillies and meet export standards.
The Food Security and Agriculture Center of Excellence has distributed geotextile drying sheets to chilli farmers in Kunri, Sindh, to improve post-harvest handling and expand market and export opportunities.
The initiative is being carried out in partnership with Verdora Ventures. It aims to replace the practice of drying chillies directly on open soil with a clean, dedicated drying surface.
The geotextile sheets keep the crop off the soil and help it dry faster and more evenly. According to the initiative organizers, the method can help control aflatoxin, reduce dirt and contamination, lower post-harvest losses and improve the grade, color and fineness of chillies.
The initiative comes as fast-moving consumer goods companies struggle to source high-quality red chillies locally and rely on imports of higher-quality chillies for products that are eventually exported.
The sheets were distributed at an event in Kunri attended by senior representatives of FACE and its partners. Muhammad Ahmad, Head of Partnerships at FACE, attended as chief guest, along with Tahir Naeem of Sona Agri Hub and representatives of Verdora Ventures.
“Food safety and quality are the foundation of market access,” Muhammad Ahmad said. He added that cleaner drying practices and better control of aflatoxin could help protect farmers’ crops and expand market opportunities.
Verdora Ventures CEO Syed M. Mahd thanked FACE for supporting the initiative and said aflatoxin and contamination had long limited farmers’ access to better prices and markets.
He said cleaner drying surfaces could improve quality, expand market access and create new export opportunities while supporting the livelihoods of farming families.
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