Long Peppers Varieties Resistant to Diseases

Strong Against Disease, Hot on the Market.

This group of long pepper varieties, developed by the World Vegetable Center, yields 6.8–18.01 t/ha over 10 harvests and reaches maturity in 70–85 days (Full variety list in downloads below). It produces uniform, moderately pungent fruits that are bright red at full maturity, with strong resistance to Cucumber Mosaic Virus, Potato Virus Y, Phytophthora blight, anthracnose, and bacterial wilt. These traits ensure reliable harvests under stress-prone conditions. As an open-pollinated line, it is easy to multiply and market. Seed companies, agro-dealers, and processors can rely on its consistency for product quality and supply chain planning.

This technology is pre-validated.

7•8

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

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

Problem

Frequent crop failures from disease and heat stress make it hard to secure a consistent seed and fruit supply.
Few locally available long pepper varieties deliver both high yield and disease tolerance, limiting contract farming and reliable out-grower supply.
Quality and shape inconsistency in traditional varieties reduces market value for fresh and processed products.
High input costs and frequent pesticide use lower profit margins for producers and seed distributors.
Limited access to improved open-pollinated lines restricts growth opportunities for domestic seed companies.

Solution

Disease Resistance: Resistant to major viral diseases like PVY and CMV, ensuring healthy plants and reduced losses.
High Yields: Stable and significant yields ranging from 6.8 to 18.01 t/ha.
Ideal Characteristics: Long, slender, spicy fruits that mature from green to red, suitable for fresh markets and processing.
Drying and Processing: Perfect for drying and grinding into chili powder and spice mixes.
Market Compatibility: Consistent size, shape, and flavor meet strict market standards for local and export markets.
Adaptability: Thrives in various environments, making it versatile for both smallholders and commercial growers.

Key points to design your business plan

This cayenne-type variety stands out due to its broad resistance to CMV, PVY, Phytophthora, anthracnose, and bacterial wilt, making it a strong candidate for regions with high disease pressure. It also offers 6.8–18.01 t/ha yield potential over 10 harvest and performs well under heat and irregular rainfall—key for savanna agro-ecologies.

For detailed agronomic traits and disease resistance profiles of each variety, refer to the document attached in the “Download” section at the bottom of this profile.

For Seed Multipliers

What seed multipliers should focus on:

Prioritize clean, disease-free foundation seed from WorldVeg or official channels.
Maintain tight quality control during flowering and fruiting to avoid contamination with landraces or local susceptible varieties.
Invest in visual sorting protocols: this variety produces long, slender, moderately pungent red fruits. Uniformity matters to end users (processors and exporters), so seed purity is critical.
Certification and packaging steps follow standard national procedures.

For Resellers (Agro-dealers, Wholesalers)

To include this variety in your seed sales strategy:

Book seed volumes in advance with certified multipliers or official seed companies to secure supply before peak demand.
Verify seed certification and shelf life, and ensure packaging includes clear varietal identity and storage instructions.
Stock small and medium seed pack sizes to accommodate different farmer purchasing powers, especially in rural and peri-urban zones.
Promote the variety as a solution for disease-prone and high-temperature areas—use images showing fruit shape and drying potential.
Train store staff and agents to explain how this variety differs from recycled seeds or local landraces (e.g., stable yields, reduced losses).
Coordinate seasonal sales with planting calendars, ensuring availability when farmers are making input decisions.
Target development partners and cooperatives procuring seed for farmer support programs in climate-sensitive zones.

For Users (Commercial Farmers, Aggregators, Processors)

To integrate the variety into your production or sourcing model:

Test the variety under your local conditions, especially if you're in zones with viral disease outbreaks or unreliable rainfall.
Place seed orders early through trusted distributors to secure certified seed in time for nursery preparation or direct sowing.
Incorporate the expected yield (5–7 t/ha) and lower pesticide use into your production cost projections—this can improve ROI.
Design aggregation or contract farming schemes around this variety’s stable performance, ensuring uniform product flow to processors or traders.
Invest in basic post-harvest handling (drying mats, storage sacks) if processing or storing for chili powder or spice blends.
Market end-products around consistent size and pungency, whether selling dried pods, powdered chili, or fresh produce.
Consider forward agreements with buyers (e.g. local processors, exporters) based on the predictable quality and supply this variety offers.

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.

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	–Not adopted
Ghana	–No ongoing testing	Tested	–Not adopted
Nigeria	–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.

For researchers interested in this line, refer to the guidelines attached for the field trial.