RIYADH: Heres a chance for pepper lovers to find the best and the hottest types of the favorite food.  The 4th Fourth Shaqra Pepper Festival, which runs from July 28 until August 6, 2024, is showcasing various varieties of the crop, with farmers from Shaqra on hand to help enlighten the public of the hottest farm produce of the governorate. Shaqra, a part of Riyadh province, accounts for about 78% of Saudi Arabias pepper production, according to a report by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). As part of the festival, experts will guide entrepreneurs and farmers on healthy practices to produce high-quality crops and on processing methods. Competitions will also be held to select the best model pepper farm, product, and the largest pepper tree.  "Hot pepper, also known as Habhar Shaqra, is considered among the finest and most preferred in the Saudi and Gulf markets," SPA said. It said that hot pepper is considered a top cash crop with high economic feasibility. "With advanced agricultural practices, hot pepper is grown in open fields and inside greenhouses, yielding large quantities and high-quality output and achieving the best economic returns," the report said. Pepper farming in the Kingdom  begins in April, October, and November, while it is grown in greenhouses from late August to early September.  According to the report, harvest time comes after 120 days. The Kingdoms annual pepper production is 119,700 tons, with a self-sufficiency rate reaching 72 percent.  It is grown in a total area of ​​about 3,167 hectares in various provinces of the Kingdom, led by Riyadh province with an annual production of 65,796 tons in Shaqra Governorate, followed by Tabuk with a production of 10,484 tons; Qassim, 9,045 tons; Eastern Province, 8,871 tons; Jazan, 7,347 tons; Najran, 5,548 tons; Makkah, 4,675 tons; Madinah, 3,198 tons; Al-Baha, 2,331 tons; Hail, 1,155 tons; Asir, 773 tons; Al-Jouf, 357 tons, and the Northern Borders, 100 tons.  Chilli peppers are used in many ways, including food, especially spicy snacks, and traditional and fast meals in most countries.  Capsaicin found in chilli peppers is used in the manufacture of ointments to treat local pain and in skin patches as a topical pain killer, in addition to the manufacture of chemical irritants used for security reasons, while capsaicin is also used in the manufacture of pepper spray used in tear gas. It also has many health benefits, as it provides the body with essential vitamins, helps eliminate cancer, burns fat, lowers cholesterol and blood sugar levels, and helps eliminate harmful bacteria. The report added that global pepper market is estimated at $1.61 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach $2.16 billion by 2029.