Quick stats
| Family | Solanaceae |
|---|---|
| Typical harvest | 15.3 t/ha |
| Varieties | 3 |
| Pests & diseases | 8 |
| Seasons | 3 |
Crop profile
| Growth habit | annual |
|---|---|
| Days to harvest | 140 |
| Main uses | Fresh green and dry red Chili (pilipili) used for cooking, sauces, spice, pickles and chilli powder. |
| Pollination | self |
| Origin / where it grows | Chili (pilipili) is widely grown in warm and moderately dry areas of East Africa, both under rainfed and irrigated conditions. |
Weather, soil & spacing
| Best temperature | 20–30 °C |
|---|---|
| Rainfall | 700–1000 mm/yr |
| Altitude | 0–1800 m |
| Best pH | 6–6.8 |
| Soil type | Well-drained loam or sandy loam with good organic matter. Chili (pilipili) does not like heavy, waterlogged soils. |
| Row spacing | 60 cm |
| Plant spacing | 40 cm |
| Planting depth | 1.5 cm |
| Seed rate | 0.3 kg/ha |
| Nursery days | 30 |
Simple notes for farmers
About the crop: This crop is annual. You plant, grow and harvest it in one main season, then plant again. You can normally start harvesting about 140 days after planting, depending on care and variety.
Main use: Farmers mostly grow this crop for fresh green and dry red chili (pilipili) used for cooking, sauces, spice, pickles and chilli powder..
Pollination: This crop is mainly pollinated by self. Keeping flowers healthy and having insects like bees in the field helps improve fruit set and yields.
Where it grows: Chili (pilipili) is widely grown in warm and moderately dry areas of East Africa, both under rainfed and irrigated conditions. It is grouped under: Vegetables.
Best climate: This crop does well in warm areas where the temperature is usually between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius. It prefers places that receive around 700 to 1000 millimetres of rain in a year. It can grow from near sea level up to about 1800 metres above sea level.
Soil: The crop grows best in slightly acidic to near neutral soils, with a pH of about 6 to 6.8. It does well in well-drained loam or sandy loam with good organic matter. chili (pilipili) does not like heavy, waterlogged soils.. Good drainage is important, so avoid waterlogged spots.
Plant spacing: Plant in rows about 60 centimetres apart, and leave about 40 centimetres between plants in the row. This gives each plant enough space for roots and canopy to spread.
Planting depth: Dig planting holes or furrows about 1.5 centimetres deep so the roots sit firmly in the soil but are not buried too deep.
Seed or planting material: Use around 0.3 kilograms of seed or planting material per hectare. Spread or plant evenly so the field has a good stand without being overcrowded.
Nursery period: If you raise seedlings in a nursery, keep them there for about 30 days before transplanting to the main field, when they are strong and healthy.
Farmer guide (mwongozo wa mkulima)
Nutrient schedule (mbolea kwa hatua)
| # | Stage | DAP | Product | Rate | Targets (kg/ha) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Basal at transplanting | 0 | NPK 17-17-17 or 15-15-15 | 250 kg/ha | N: 42, P₂O₅: 42, K₂O: 42 | Band fertilizer 5–8 cm away from Chili (pilipili) seedlings and cover lightly with soil. |
| 2 | Early topdress | 21 | CAN 26% N | 100 kg/ha | N: 26, P₂O₅: 0, K₂O: 0 | Apply between rows of Chili (pilipili) on moist soil, then irrigate or lightly incorporate. |
| 3 | Fruiting topdress (N + K) | 40 | NPK 12-6-24 or urea + SOP/MOP | 150 kg/ha | N: 18, P₂O₅: 9, K₂O: 36 | Supports flowering and fruit filling in Chili (pilipili); avoid very late heavy nitrogen. |
Nutrient requirements
| Nutrient | Stage | Amount | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| N | Basal | 50 | kg/ha |
| P₂O₅ | Basal | 60 | kg/ha |
| K₂O | Basal | 60 | kg/ha |
| N | Topdress_early | 40 | kg/ha |
| P₂O₅ | Topdress_early | 0 | kg/ha |
| K₂O | Topdress_early | 30 | kg/ha |
| N | Topdress_fruiting | 30 | kg/ha |
| P₂O₅ | Topdress_fruiting | 0 | kg/ha |
| K₂O | Topdress_fruiting | 60 | kg/ha |
| Name | Country | Maturity | Traits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot bird’s eye Chili (pilipili kali) | KE | 130 | Very hot small fruits, suitable for fresh and dry spice markets. |
| Medium-hot long Chili (pilipili hoho) | KE | 120 | Long fruits, good for fresh use and drying. |
| Hybrid export-type Chili (pilipili) | TZ | 130 | High yield, uniform fruits suitable for fresh export and drying. |
| Stage | Product | Rate (kg/ha) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basal | NPK 17-17-17 or 15-15-15 | 250 | Provides balanced nutrients for early Chili (pilipili) growth. |
| Topdress (N source) | CAN 26% N or urea | 100 | Apply once or twice during vegetative growth. |
| Topdress (K source) | Sulfate of potash (SOP) or high-K NPK | 100 | Improves fruit size, colour and shelf life of Chili (pilipili). |
| Organic | Well-rotted farmyard manure or compost | 8000 | Apply before transplanting to improve soil structure and water holding. |
| Name | Type | Symptoms | Management |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aphids | pest | Clusters of small insects on Chili (pilipili) shoots and leaf undersides, curled leaves, sticky honeydew and sooty mould... | Encourage natural enemies, control ants, and use selective insecticides or biopesticides when numbers increase. |
| Thrips | pest | Silvery streaks and small brown spots on Chili (pilipili) leaves and fruits, distorted tips and scabby fruits. | Reduce weeds, use blue or yellow sticky traps and apply targeted insecticides/biopesticides based on scouting. |
| Whiteflies | pest | Small white insects that fly when Chili (pilipili) plants are touched, honeydew, leaf yellowing and virus transmission. | Use yellow sticky traps, remove heavily infected plants and apply selective products when needed. |
| Fruit borers / bollworms | pest | Holes in Chili (pilipili) fruits, internal feeding by caterpillars, rotting fruits and fruit drop. | Collect and destroy infested fruits, use pheromone traps where available and apply recommended insecticides early. |
| Red spider mites | pest | Fine webbing on Chili (pilipili) leaves, yellowing, speckling and leaf drop in hot, dry conditions. | Avoid dusty conditions, conserve natural enemies and use acaricides/biopesticides when mite numbers build up. |
| Anthracnose | disease | Sunken dark spots on Chili (pilipili) fruits, often with pinkish spore masses, leading to rots on plant and in storage. | Use clean seed, avoid overhead irrigation late in the day, harvest carefully and use fungicides when pressure is high. |
| Bacterial leaf spot and wilts | disease | Spots on leaves and fruits, wilting and drying of branches in Chili (pilipili). | Rotate crops, avoid working in fields when wet and remove severely affected plants early. |
| Viral diseases (mosaics, leaf curl) | disease | Mottled, curled and twisted leaves, stunting and poor fruit set in Chili (pilipili). | Use healthy seedlings, control aphids and whiteflies and rogue infected plants as soon as they appear. |
| System | Typical | Min | Max | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open-field Chili (pilipili), low input | 4 | 2 | 6 | Local varieties, little fertilizer and basic pest control. Green + dry fruit combined (fresh weight). |
| Open-field Chili (pilipili), improved management | 12 | 8 | 18 | Improved/hybrid varieties, recommended fertilizer, regular picking and pest management. |
| Irrigated net-house / intensive Chili (pilipili) | 30 | 20 | 40 | Protected or intensively managed crop with drip, fertigation and strong pest control. |
| Country | Region | Planting | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| KE | Warm low to mid-altitude Chili (pilipili) zones (rainfed, long rains) | Mar–Apr | Jun–Sep (multiple pickings) |
| KE | Short-rains Chili (pilipili) season | Oct–Nov | Jan–Mar |
| TZ | Irrigated and peri-urban Chili (pilipili) belts | Most months with reliable irrigation | Continuous pickings over several months |
| Country | Region | Suitability |
|---|---|---|
| KE | Peri-urban irrigated Chili (pilipili) areas | High |
| KE | Very cool highlands prone to frost | Low |
| KE | Warm low to mid-altitude vegetable belts | High |
| TZ | Central and coastal Chili (pilipili) producing zones | High |
| UG | Mid-altitude vegetable-growing regions | High |