India is the world's largest producer and consumer of chili peppers, contributing around 25% of global production. The top producers also include China, Pakistan, Mexico, and Spain. Chili peppers originated in Central and South America and are an important global spice crop. In India, the main chili pepper producing states are Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra, which collectively account for over 70% of national production. Chili peppers belong to the genus Capsicum, which contains over 30 species, with the most widely cultivated being C. annuum, C. frutescens, C. chinense, and C. baccatum.