Hot and Aromatic Round Pepper for Culinary and Processing Use

Intense Heat, Rich Aroma, Market Ready!

These improved round pepper varieties are made for farms and home gardens. They produce peppers that are hot, aromatic, and good for fresh use or drying. They help boost nutrition and income in rural areas, especially for women and youth. The peppers can be used in cooking or sold in markets as fresh produce or as part of small-scale processing (powder, paste, or spice mix). These varieties work well in dry or hot areas and can be promoted in programs focused on resilience, women’s empowerment, and local business growth.

This technology is pre-validated.

7•8

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 7/9; level of use 8/9

Adults 18 and over: Positive high

Increased productivity and reduced losses lead to more reliable earnings and better livelihoods, directly enhancing the economic situation for adult family members.

The poor: Positive high

By increasing yield reliability and reducing input costs, even small-scale and resource-poor farmers can improve their standard of living and resilience.

Under 18: Positive medium

Stable, increased pepper production enhances family well-being, ensuring that children have access to better quality food and potentially more resources for education and health.

Women: Positive high

Higher yields and reduced reliance on chemical inputs can reduce labor burdens, increase profits, and improve women’s standing in the household and community.

Climate adaptability: Highly adaptable

Enhanced resilience to temperature shifts and rainfall variability helps farmers maintain productivity as climate conditions change.

Farmer climate change readiness: Significant improvement

Access to hardy, disease-resistant varieties helps farmers adapt to climate fluctuations and reduces the risk of crop failure, improving long-term livelihood security.

Biodiversity: No impact on biodiversity

The technology itself is not designed to increase plant species diversity, but lowering chemical inputs may indirectly support local ecosystems and natural predators.

Carbon footprint: A bit less carbon released

Less reliance on chemical production and transportation, and improved yields per area, may decrease overall greenhouse gas emissions per unit of produce.

Environmental health: Moderately improves environmental health

By using disease-resistant varieties, farmers can maintain productivity with fewer harmful inputs, improving overall ecosystem health.

Soil quality: Does not affect soil health and fertility

Healthier soil biodiversity and reduced chemical load help maintain long-term soil fertility and productivity.

Water use: Same amount of water used

While not a water-saving technology, healthier plants with stable yields may indirectly encourage more efficient irrigation practices, improving overall water management.

Problem

Limited Access to Improved Varieties: Smallholder farmers lack access to improved round pepper varieties with strong heat and aroma, leading to crop losses and low yields from disease and heat stress.
Exclusion of Women and Youth: Women and youth are often excluded from profitable pepper value chains due to limited training, market connections, and control over resources like land and seed.
Inconsistent Product Quality: Poor consistency in pepper traits hinders small processors and farmer cooperatives from meeting quality standards for drying, grinding, and sauce production.
High Costs and Pest Pressure: Elevated input costs and pest challenges reduce the sustainability of pepper interventions, especially where financial and extension support are limited.
Lack of Climate Resilience: Traditional pepper systems are vulnerable to climate stress, making it difficult for NGOs and development agencies to scale resilient, durable solutions in at-risk communities.

Solution

Easy-to-grow, disease-resistant varieties help small farmers increase production without expensive inputs.
Short growth cycles and simple management encourage women and youth to engage actively in pepper growing and processing activities.
Good fruit quality and consistency make these peppers ideal for small businesses producing sauces, dried peppers, or spices.
Heat and Aroma Traits: Enhances pepper quality to meet consumer preferences and market demand.
Tolerance to heat and drought supports farmers in climate-vulnerable areas, fitting well with sustainable farming programs.

Key points to design your program

This technology addresses key challenges in round pepper production, such as low yields, frequent disease outbreaks, and pest pressure. In regions where round peppers are widely consumed and serve as a key income source for smallholders, these improved varieties have shown strong performance under difficult growing conditions.

They support multiple Sustainable Development Goals:

SDG 2 by improving pepper yields and farmer productivity
SDG 5 by enabling greater participation of women in profitable pepper production and processing
SDG 13 by reducing chemical use through natural resistance to major diseases and pests

These round pepper varieties perform best when used alongside good agricultural practices. Recommended approaches include:

Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Combine regular pest monitoring, natural predators, and selective spraying to reduce crop damage.
Soil Fertility Management: Use compost, organic matter, and balanced fertilization to maintain soil health and plant strength.
Efficient Irrigation: Apply water-saving methods like bucket irrigation, furrows, or small drip kits to ensure even moisture.
Post-Harvest Handling: Dry peppers on clean mats or raised racks; store them in dry, pest-free conditions to reduce spoilage and maintain market value.

This solution is well-suited for development programs focused on boosting farmer incomes, improving nutrition, and building more resilient food systems. Partnering with institutions like the World Vegetable Center or national agricultural bodies can help ensure technical success and long-term impact.

Cost: $$$ 2336 USD

All production cost for 1 hectare

ROI: $$$ up to 434 %

over 10 harvests

6.8–18.01 t/ha

over 10 harvest

70–85 days

Days to Maturity after Transplanting

Officially released in Benin in 2025

IP

Open source / open access

Countries with a green colour: Tested & adopted
Countries with a bright green colour: Adopted
Countries with a yellow colour: Tested
Countries with a blue colour: Testing ongoing

Countries where the technology is being tested or has been tested and adopted
Country	Testing ongoing	Tested	Adopted
Benin	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Burkina Faso	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Djibouti	–No ongoing testing	Tested	–Not adopted
Ethiopia	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Gambia	Testing ongoing	–Not tested	–Not adopted
Ghana	–No ongoing testing	Tested	–Not adopted
Kenya	–No ongoing testing	Tested	–Not adopted
Mali	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Nigeria	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Rwanda	–No ongoing testing	Tested	–Not adopted
Tanzania	–No ongoing testing	Tested	–Not adopted
Togo	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.

Agro-ecological zones where this technology can be used
AEZ	Subtropic - warm	Subtropic - cool	Tropic - warm	Tropic - cool
Arid	–	–	–	–
Semiarid		–
Subhumid
Humid		–

Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.

Goal 2: zero hunger

By increasing cayenne pepper yields and reducing losses due to diseases and pests, these improved varieties contribute directly to food availability and affordability. This helps ensure a more stable food supply, particularly in regions where peppers are a key part of local diets.

Goal 5: gender equality

Women often play central roles in agriculture—growing, harvesting, processing, or marketing crops. Improved pepper varieties and related practices can enhance their productivity, income, and decision-making power. As a result, women gain greater economic independence and recognition, contributing to gender equality.

Goal 13: climate action

Disease-resistant, resilient pepper varieties reduce reliance on chemical inputs, lower environmental risks, and help maintain stable yields even under challenging climate conditions. By improving the ability of farming systems to cope with climate variability, these varieties support climate adaptation efforts and more sustainable use of resources.

This line can be used following the standard cultural practices in different environments. Please refer to the downloads below for more information.