HASSAN: Traders and chilli growers continue to be at loggerheads in Hassan district. Frustrated with the falling prices, farmers dumping chillies on the roads and in the drains has become common in Hassan.

On June 22, farmers protested against the falling prices by dumping green chillies on the premises of Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) yard when wholesale dealers, who bought chillies from farmers at Rs. 6 a kg a few days ago, offered only Rs. 2 a kg.

The problem took a serious turn on Thursday when the traders refused to buy the produce and farmers rushed to Santhepet and pressured traders to buy the produce. When the traders refused, farmers returned to the APMC yard and spilled the stocks of chillies kept by traders on to the roads, according to sources in APMC. Traders allegedly retaliated by attacking the farmers. The police, who reached the spot, brought the situation under control. APMC president Lakshman, who mediated between the traders and farmers later, urged the traders to buy the produce at Rs. 2 a kg.

APMC secretary Ranganath told The Hindu that the traders bought chillies at Rs. 3 a kg on Wednesday and sent the consignment to Bangalore. But the traders in Bangalore did not receive the consignment because they had sufficient stock. This prompted the traders in Hassan to reject chillies from farmers.

Farmers alleged that the traders were selling chillies at Rs. 8 a kg in the market but paid the farmers only Rs. 2 a kg. "We have taken loans from banks and moneylenders to cultivate chilli. With the price falling to Rs. 1.50 a kg, how can we repay the debt?," asked Nanje Gowda, a farmer from Salagame village.

According to sources in the Department of Horticulture, farmers cultivated green chillies on 5,000 hectares of land in the district. The frustrated farmers have urged the Government to intervene immediately. "It is the responsibility of the elected representatives to safeguard their interest by urging the Government to fix support price for the produce," said Nage Gowda, a farmer from Alur, said.

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