Extension study on fruit rot disease of chilli, in Khammam district of Telangana

Chilli (Capsicum annuum) is an important spice as well as vegetable global cultivated crop. It is used in many cuisines but also found to have many medicinal properties. Chilli (Capsicum annum L.) is an important cash crop of Central Telangana region. In Khammam District chilli is grown in 21,340 ha area with 1.02 lakh tons annual production (AMC 2018-19). Chilli (Capsicum annum L.) crop is main cash crop to the farming community next to Paddy and maize crops in the District. Cost of cultivation of Chilli was high than other crops in spite of that the farmers were interested to cultivate the Chilli (Capsicum annum L.) crop by getting high net returns. During 2019-20 majority area of Chilli (Capsicum annum L.) crop was severely affected by fruit rot disease in the District, the extent of disease observed up to 53.6% in some areas at second picking stage in the month of December. The percent disease incidence in Khammam district is varies from 36.0% to 53.6%. The maximum disease incidence was recorded in Kusumanchi (53.6%) followed by Khammam Rural (48.5%), Karepalli (47.0%), Konijerla (45.40%). Kamepalli (45.3%), Thallada (43.4%), Mudigonda (42.8%) and Enkur(41.6%) in the month of December.