The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Chilli growers an agitated lot

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 29, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Chilli growers an agitated lot

By Our Correspondent

ADILABAD, MARCH 28. Chilli farmers in Adilabad are in for difficult times because there seems to be no likelihood of purchase centres being opened in the district. The undue delay in opening purchase centres at Warangal, Khammam and Guntur is also a major cause of concern for farmers here.

The State Government promised the opening of purchase centres by March 24, but there is no indication of anything happening in this direction so far.

"Though we are seized of the matter we are yet to receive any communication in this regard," the Adilabad District Collector, J. Sudha Rani, said.

According to sources, the Markfed is hesitant to open purchase centres at Adilabad because of two reasons.

For one, is there is no cold storage facility here and second, there is every likelihood of the chilli crop quality produce being here being of lesser standard.

Sources cite instance of the chilli purchase made last year by the Markfed. All the 910 quintals of chilli purchased last year is still locked up in cold storages in Nizamabad district.

This year, chilli was sown in 25,681 hectares in Adilabad. Of this, the crop was damaged during the January hailstorm in 3,370 hectares in the mandals of Sarangapur, Mudhole and Lokeswaram.

The loss in terms of quantity was 375 tonnes and in terms of finance was put at Rs. 9.37 crores.

Distress prices?

There is yet no talk of compensation to the farmers who lost their crop. Besides, the arrangement that is being worked out for the regular crop will not bring any cheer to the farmer.

According to the sources, farmers in Adilabad will now have to go to Warangal to sell their produce on the appointed date.

This will be followed by one more trip when the payment is made. In the wake of such a situation, the farmers will be compelled to sell their produce at distress prices.

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