Chilli farmers rejoice as produce price hits all-time high

Guntur: Red chilli farmers are delighted with the price of produce shooting up sharply by 25 to 30 per cent compared to last year. The increase in demand has led to price of the produce going up.

At present, Teja variety is commanding the price of Rs 16,000 a quintal. It was sold at Rs 12,500 during the same period last year. Similarly, 341 variety of chilli is now sold at Rs 15,500 a quintal as against Rs 12,500 last year.

The price of Badiga variety too has gone up by Rs 3,700 and it is fetching Rs. 13,700 a quintal. Similarly, No. 5 variety price has increased by Rs 3,500 per quintal to Rs 14,000. At present, Devanuri Deluxe variety is sold at Rs 13,200 a quintal as against Rs 10,000 during the same period last year.

According to Agriculture Market Yard sources, generally farmers keep stocks in the cold storage units to get better price. Due to deficit rain during the last year in some districts and unseasonal rains in some other districts, the yield had fallen drastically.

Consequently, the farmers brought the produce directly to the Market Yard to sell it. The premium varieties like Teja, Badiga, Devanuri Deluxe, No.5, No.341 are fetching good price for farmers.

When the cotton farmers got better price last year, the chilli farmers who cultivate in over three lakh hectares have shifted to cotton during this season.

When the quality chilli is not available in the cold storages, exporters and traders are offering a better price for the produce.

A chilli trader, P Ranga Rao, said, "Shortage of premium brands of chilli stocks, shifting of chilli farmers to cotton increased demand for chillis.

As a result, the chilli price reached new heights in the market. I am expecting same situation will continue."

An official in the agriculture market yard P Bhaksar Reddy said, "There is more demand for Teja, Badiga, DD varieties in the international market.