Cancona chilli cultivators get Central award for conservation

Farming community growing chillies on hill slopes in Goa's Canacona district has won a Central award for their efforts in conserving the local Khola variety of the spice crop through traditional ways.
"Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority (PPV-FRA), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, New Delhi has bestowed Plant Genome Saviour Community Award upon Khola/Canacona Chili Cultivators Group, Khola village in South Goa," Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) Goa spokesman said today.
The Group was honoured for their contribution in conservation and preservation of local Khola chillies through generations.
The award was recently presented in a function held in the national capital.

"Khola /Canacona chilli cultivators follow a unique pattern and traditional practice that has been followed from years. This particular Khola chillies are cultivated all along the slopes of the mountains, hilly terrains as well as on rocky plains of the village.
These chillies are unique with respect to their colour (brilliant red) and are medium pungent in taste," ICAR said.

Khola/Canacona chillies have been cultivated in Khola (Cola) village from years and entire village community is involved in their conservation.
As per ICAR, locals are cultivating this local chilli variety in almost every household as well as on the slopes of mountains and in open plains.

"These chillies give very attractive red colour when added in various food preparations and recipes. Besides this, the farmers also cultivate tuber crops, locally knows as Katekananga, Zadkananga, Suran (Elephant foot yam), Colocasia etc and local vegetables.