KHAMMAM: The chilli farmers who were expecting an increase in the price of chillies after reopening of the market were disappointed as the price remained the same.
After 14 days of ‘holiday,’ the chilli market was reopened on June 5 and on the very first day about 5,000 chilli bags were brought to market and the produce was sold at Rs 2,500-6,400 per quintal.
Hundreds of farmers brought chilli to the market on Tuesday with a hope that they would get good remunerative price for their produce but they were shocked at the price being offered by the traders.
Farmers said that in spite of the many agitations that took place in the chilli market, there is no change in the attitude of the traders, adding that they were being offered very low prices. On Tuesday about 7,000 bags of chilli were brought to the market from all parts of both Khammam and Bhadradri Kothagudem districts including neighbouring Nalgonda and Krishna districts K Somaiah, a farmer from Garloddu village said: “We kept chilli for a long time in our houses as the market yard was closed. We came to the market with a lot of hope about price but there is no change.”
N Naraimha Rao, a farmer from Cheruvumadharam village said: “We expected a subsidy from the state government like in AP but there is no response from the government. We also need to pay labourers. We are unable to wait anymore. That’s why we sold it at Rs 3,500 per quintal today.”
K Balya, a farmer from Tekulapalli village expressing his anguish said, “I planned to get my daughter married by selling chilli but with this price I am even unable to make payments of labourers’ now.”
Wrong to shift market without talks: Cong
Former union minister and MP Renuka Chowdary demanded that state government take opinion of labourers and traders before shifting Khammam market yard. She said that Congress party would object, if they tried to shift market yard without the consent of labourers and traders, who are dependent on market yard. Speaking in a round table meeting here on Tuesday, she said the problem should be solved as soon as possible