Capsicum  Global Farming Guide, Nutrition, Yield, Cost & Profit

1. INTRODUCTION

Capsicum (Capsicum annuum) also known as bell pepper, sweet pepper, or Shimla Mirch, is one of the most commercially valuable vegetables worldwide. Grown in more than 160 countries, capsicum is considered a premium greenhouse vegetable due to its high demand, strong export market, excellent shelf life, and suitability for protected cultivation.

Capsicum farming is extremely profitable in North America, Europe, Middle East, Africa, South Asia, China, Mexico, and Southeast Asia because of:

continuous supermarket demand

huge hotel & restaurant consumption

processed food industry demand

strong export value

Due to various colors (green, red, yellow, orange), capsicum has a higher market price than most vegetables.

2. BOTANICAL & AGRONOMIC DETAILS

Botanical Name: Capsicum annuum

Family: Solanaceae

Chromosomes: 2n = 24

Plant Type: Annual/perennial depending on climate

Pollination: Mostly self-pollinated

Origin: Central & South America

3. NUTRITION PROFILE (per 100 g raw capsicum)

NutrientAmountBenefitCalories20 kcalIdeal for weight lossProtein0.9 gBody repairCarbs4.6 gEnergyFiber1.7 gImproves digestionVitamin C127 mgExtremely high immunity boosterVitamin A3131 IUEye healthVitamin B60.29 mgNerve healthPotassium211 mgHeart healthAntioxidantsVery HighAnti-inflammatory

Red capsicum contains lycopene • Yellow contains lutein • Green contains chlorophyll compounds.

4. GLOBAL CULINARY USES

Salads, pizza toppings, sauces

Stir-fried dishes (Chinese, Thai, Korean)

Stuffed capsicum, pasta, fajitas

Frozen mixed vegetables

Pickles and dips

Hotel, café & fast-food industry

Export quality peppers are used heavily in European & Middle Eastern cuisines.

5. SEED REQUIREMENT

Per Acre

80–100 grams hybrid seeds

Per Hectare

200–250 grams hybrid seeds

Protected farming uses premium seeds (Netherlands, Israel, Japan).

6. SOIL REQUIREMENT

Sandy-loam to clay-loam soil

pH 6.0–6.8

High organic matter

Proper drainage

Raised beds recommended

7. CLIMATE REQUIREMENT (COUNTRY-WISE)

India

20–30°C, best season: October–February

USA

California, Florida, Arizona
Ideal temperature: 18–26°C

Europe

Spain, Netherlands, Italy
Greenhouse production is dominant

Middle East

UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar
Mostly greenhouse / cooling pad systems

China

Largest producer with open + greenhouse farms

8. IRRIGATION SCHEDULE

Drip irrigation is mandatory for best results.

First irrigation after transplanting

Then every 3–4 days

Avoid waterlogging

Maintain 60–70% soil moisture

9. FERTILIZER SCHEDULE (GLOBAL STANDARD)

Basal Dose (Before planting)

FYM: 20–25 tons/ha

NPK: 60:40:40 kg/ha

Top Dressing via Drip (Fertigation)

Nitrogen weekly dose

Potassium during flowering

Calcium + Boron for fruit setting

Micronutrients

Magnesium

Sulfur

Zinc

10. PESTS & DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Major Pests

Whiteflies

Thrips

Aphids

Fruit borer

Diseases

Powdery mildew

Bacterial leaf spot

Damping-off

Mosaic virus

Controls

Neem oil sprays

Copper fungicide

Sticky traps

Disease-free nursery

Resistant hybrids

Proper ventilation in greenhouse

11. CROP DURATION (WORLDWIDE)

RegionDurationIndia (open field)100–120 daysIndia (greenhouse)150–200 daysEurope150–250 daysUSA120–150 daysMiddle East140–170 days

Greenhouse capsicum continues fruiting for 6 months.

12. GLOBAL YIELD DATA

Farming TypeYieldOpen Field10–15 tons/haHybrid15–25 tons/haGreenhouse80–120 tons/haDutch/Israeli high-techUp to 180 tons/ha

Greenhouse capsicum gives 10x yield compared to open farming.

13. COST OF CULTIVATION (USD ONLY)

Open Field Capsicum (Per Hectare)

ExpenseCost (USD)Seeds$80Land Prep$120Fertilizers$220Irrigation$120Labor$350Pesticides$140Mulching$200Harvesting + Packaging$180Transport$100Misc.$110Total Cost$1,620

Greenhouse Capsicum (Per Hectare)

ExpenseUSDHybrid Seeds$150Greenhouse Setup (share)$5,000Fertilizers$500Pesticides$260Drip + Cooling$350Labor$600Others$400Total Cost$7,260

14. PROFIT (USD ONLY)

Open Field Profit

Yield: 20,000 kg

Price: $0.70/kg

Revenue: $14,000

Cost: $1,620

Net Profit = $12,380 per hectare

Greenhouse Profit

Yield: 100,000 kg

Price: $1.50/kg

Revenue: $150,000

Cost: $7,260

Net Profit = $142,740 per hectare

Capsicum is one of the most profitable vegetables worldwide.

15. POST-HARVEST TECHNOLOGY

Pre-cooling: 7–10°C

Waxing for longer shelf life

Grading by size & color

Cold storage life: 3–5 weeks

Export uses ventilated crates

16. GLOBAL EXPORT MARKET

Top Exporters

Netherlands

Spain

Mexico

China

Turkey

Top Importers

USA

Germany

UAE

UK

Canada

Demand keeps rising due to supermarkets + fast food chains.

17. LOAN & INSURANCE WORLDWIDE

Available Loans

Greenhouse subsidy loans

Drip irrigation loans

Vegetable production loans

Cold storage loans

Insurance Coverage

Crop disease

Temperature stress

Drought

Storm

Market crash

18. FAQ

1. How many seeds needed per hectare?
200–250 grams hybrid seeds.

2. Which climate is best?
18–28°C cool climate.

3. Is capsicum profitable?
Yes, up to $140,000 profit in greenhouse farming.

4. What irrigation method is ideal?
Drip irrigation.

5. How long does capsicum take to mature?
100–200 days depending on climate.

6. Which fertilizers give best yield?
NPK + Calcium + Boron + Micronutrients.

7. Which pests affect capsicum?
Whitefly, thrips, fruit borer.

8. How many harvests per plant?
8–14 harvest cycles in greenhouse.

9. Best countries for capsicum export?
Netherlands, Spain, Turkey.

10. Best countries for capsicum import?
USA, Germany, UAE.

11. Can capsicum grow in heat?
Yes, with shade nets or greenhouse cooling.

12. Which varieties are best?
Indra, Bomby, Inspiration, California Wonder.

13. What is shelf life?
2–5 weeks in cold storage.

14. Can organic capsicum be grown?
Yes, with neem + compost + biofertilizers.

15. What marketing channels are best?
Supermarkets, exporters, restaurants, processors.

19. CONCLUSION

Capsicum is one of the highest-profit vegetables globally, especially in protected cultivation systems. With proper seed selection, climate control, drip irrigation, fertigation, pest management, and global market targeting, farmers can earn 10x to 50x profits in a single season.

For worldwide farmers, capsicum is a low-risk, high-return, export-friendly vegetable with strong year-round demand.



✍️Farming Writers