Chilli Prices were Rs 12000 per quintal then, now is Rs 3000 to Rs 4000 per quintal
VIJAYAWADA: Fluctuating prices of chilli is forcing farmers to rush to Guntur agriculture market yard with stocks. Official sources said at least 1 lakh bags of dry chilli are arriving in the market yard every day, prompting traders to form a cartel and trim the prices. Chilli, which fetched over 25,000 per quintal last season, is now fetching between 12,000 to 20,000 per quintal. While fine variety chill is fetching around 20,000, the rates for medium grade varieties start from 12,000 per quintal. [...] Farmers also thought they would get at least last year's price of 25,000 per quintal. However, the prices have dipped by nearly 15-20 per cent over the last year purely due to the cartel of traders. "There is huge demand in both domestic and global markets for Guntur chilli. However, the farmers' rush to clear the stocks is helping traders who are making a killing," said an official of the agriculture marketing department.