Lakhauri Mirch: Almora's Spicy Gem Faces Decline, Needs Urgent Revival

• Lakhauri Mirch, also known as yellow chili, is a distinct spicy identity from Almora, Uttarakhand, admired for its unique taste, color, and pungency.
• When dried, it turns light yellow/golden with wrinkles; its intense spiciness makes it essential for enhancing mountain cuisine flavors.
• Historically cultivated extensively in Almora, it was a significant income source and cultural symbol, used in powders, flakes, and mountain salt.
• Cultivation has declined due to wild animal attacks, migration, and low profits, leading thousands of farmers to abandon it.
• Urgent need for government and societal support to boost its production and marketing, preserving this traditional crop and local culture.