Sindh farmers are set to benefit from an initiative aimed at improving the quality and safety of locally produced chillies and helping them meet export standards.
The initiative addresses a longstanding challenge faced by fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies, which often struggle to source high-quality red chillies locally and rely on imports to meet quality requirements for their products and exports.
The Food Security and Agriculture Center of Excellence (FACE), in collaboration with Verdora Ventures, has distributed geotextile drying sheets among chilli growers in Kunri, Sindh, to promote cleaner and safer post-harvest practices.
The initiative will replace traditional open-soil drying with dedicated, clean surfaces, enabling farmers to produce better-quality and more hygienic chillies while potentially reducing post-harvest losses and improving their access to higher-value markets.
According to the organisers, the geotextile sheets keep chillies away from direct contact with soil and facilitate faster and more uniform drying. The method can help reduce contamination and aflatoxin risks while improving the crop’s grade, colour and fineness.
These improvements are expected to enhance the marketability of locally produced chillies and create greater opportunities for farmers in domestic and export markets.
The sheets were distributed during an event in Kunri attended by senior representatives of FACE and its partner organisations. Muhammad Ahmad, Head of Partnerships at FACE, attended as chief guest, while Tahir Naeem of Sona Agri Hub and representatives of Verdora Ventures were also present.
“Food safety and quality are the foundation of market access,” Ahmad said. He added that helping farmers adopt cleaner drying practices and control aflatoxin would protect their produce and expand market opportunities.
Syed M. Mahd, CEO of Verdora Ventures, thanked FACE for supporting the initiative and said contamination and aflatoxin had long prevented farmers from obtaining better prices and accessing wider markets.
He said using a cleaner drying surface was a simple intervention that could improve quality, expand market access and create new export opportunities, ultimately supporting better livelihoods for farming families.
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