Seiyhama village hosted the fourth Organic Naga King Chilli (Raja Mircha) Festival on August 29. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Seiyhama | August 29
The fourth edition of the Organic Naga King Chilli (Raja Mircha) Festival was held at Seiyhama village on August 29, celebrating the crop that has become an important source of livelihood and a defining identity of the village.
According to the 2026 farming report presented by Kevineizo Zumu, Seiyhama has 482 households, of which 180 are engaged in Naga King chilli farming. The village has recorded a harvest of 1,627 tins currently, while the next expected harvest is around 1,500 tins. The annual production of fresh king chilli is estimated at between 3200 - 3500 tins, with an expected value of approximately Rs 30-35 lakh.
The village also earns additional income through value-added products, with pickles alone expected to generate around Rs 1-2 lakh this year.
Gratitude over pride
Delivering his address as the special guest of the festival, Rev Dr Kevichalie Metha, Pastor of Peraciezie Baptist Church, Kohima, said the village had every reason to be grateful for the blessings it had received through king chilli cultivation.
“Raja Chilli may be available in other villages too, but the blessing upon this village is immeasurable,” he said, noting that many families had sustained themselves through the crop and were able to educate their children with the income generated from king chilli farming.
He further observed that the crop had helped put Seiyhama on the map, becoming part of the village’s identity not only within Nagaland but beyond the state and internationally.
Metha praised the farmers for their hard work and urged more families to take up cultivation so that the benefits of the crop could reach a larger section of the community.
At the same time, he reminded the villagers that economic success should be accompanied by gratitude and humility. He urged them not to misuse the blessings they had received or allow prosperity to become a source of pride.
He also called for greater unity and cooperation among the villagers, saying peace, mutual support and a willingness to help one another would be essential for Seiyhama to make further progress.
The younger generation, he added, has an important role to play in carrying forward the good practices and traditions established by the present generation and ensuring that king chilli cultivation continues to benefit the village in the years ahead.
From struggle to success
Also speaking at the festival, ex-chairman Lhoulalie Zumu said the Raja Chilli Festival had grown from the traditional cultivation practices passed down by the village forefathers. He recalled that farmers had earlier struggled to find markets for their produce, but support from the Department of Horticulture had helped the village’s king chilli gain wider market access.
“Earlier, we did not know how to sell our products,” he said, adding that the department’s support had encouraged more villagers to take up king chilli farming. However, he stressed that continued assistance from allied departments was still needed, particularly in transportation, to help farmers market their produce more efficiently.
Highlighting the contribution of king chilli to the village, Zumu said the crop had brought both economic opportunities and recognition to Seiyhama.
It was informed that about 300 tins of Raja mircha has been sold along with other organic vegetable and produces.
