
- A
Naga King Chilli farm owned by Ipungba Cerai in Old Tesen village, Peren
district.
- DIMAPUR — Every
year, as summer approaches, markets across Nagaland burst into fiery red with
mounds of Naga King Chilli—a globally recognised and locally relished spice.
- Certified by the Guinness World Records in 2006 for its heat
and awarded a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2008, this chilli has long
been a point of pride for the state.
- However, an increasing influx of similar-looking chillies
from Arunachal Pradesh and Assam is posing a serious challenge to local
farmers.
- Currently, markets in Dimapur and Kohima are flooded with
King Chilli, but much of it, according to vendors, is sourced from neighbouring
states.

A Naga King Chilli vendor waits for customers at a market
in Dimapur.
- The authentic Raja Mircha from Nagaland typically enters the
market around July and is available until October or November.
- Yet, in April itself, chillies sold in markets are being
labelled as King Chilli, with most vendors claiming they are from Arunachal
Pradesh or Assam—available at much lower prices ranging from INR 200 to INR 250
per kg.