Guntur Red Chilli Trades Steady, Maharashtra Red Chilli Farmers Rejoice Over Hefty Profits

Mumbai (Commodities control) - Red chilli prices were unchanged in Guntur, while arrivals and rates were unavailable for Warangal markets on Thursday. The red spice collapsed across major chilli mandis earlier this week. Guntur mandi reported arrivals of 75,000 bags of red chillies on Thursday.

Exporters reveal that buying from Bangladesh and China has slowed, while arrivals of new teja variety crop in the market also dampened market sentiment.

Meanwhile, the green chillies market in Maharashtra is witnessing a bullish trend with farmers getting at least 40 per cent higher rates over last year. However, those cultivating the red varieties, which are processed and used for making masalas and other mixed spices, are making maximum profits. In red varieties, the rally in prices is over 75 per cent.

The chilli crop has been badly affected due to incessant rains with 40 percent of crop loss across Maharashtra. In many places, farmers had to uproot the cash crop and throw away the plants owing to various pests and diseases attacks.

Agriculture expert from Kolhapur, Raosaheb Pujari, said that prices of red chillies are on the rise with Sankeshwari variety fetching Rs 210 per kg as against last year’s Rs 150. The price of Byadagi variety — which is cultivated in both Kolhapur and Karnataka — has shot up to Rs 350/kg from last year’s Rs 200. Even the desi variety has increased by Rs 35 to reach Rs 200 per kg, he said.

The extended monsoon season has also deprived farmers of shade and open drying their green chilli crops, leading to a shortage of dried red chillies.

In Andhra Pradesh meanwhile, the government is on high alert in view of the cyclone Nivar and precautionary measures are being taken. The officials have also been directed to prepare a report on the enumeration of crop damage after rains stop and be ready to provide immediate relief.

Erpedu, Srikalahasti, Satyavedu of Chittoor district, and the whole of Nellore district witnessed heavy rainfall. Rains also created havoc in some parts of the YSR Kadapa and Anantapur districts.

There has been crop damage at some places and damage assessment programs will be carried out as soon as the rains subside, the officials said, according to a release.