Chilli prices shrink on glut, low exports

With low export demand and heavy arrival of new chilli crop may see spot chilli prices falling in the mandies of the country. And the arrival of new chilli crop is set to increase in the coming days.

The week began on a sad note for mirchi farmers as maximum prices for special and common varieties of fresh mirchi crop came down suddenly, forcing them to go for a panic-selling.

The prices of new mirchi crop special varieties crashed on Monday to Rs 4,800 per quintal from Friday's Rs 5,700. However, the minimum price moved up from Rs 3,700 (Friday) to Rs 4,200 per quintal at the state-run market here.

Again, prices of fresh mirchi crop common varieties moved from Rs 5,500 (Friday) to Rs 4,700 per quintal. However, the minimum price jerked up from Rs 2,800 to Rs 3,000 per quintal. Traders purchased white chillies (talu variety) at Rs 2,500 per quintal (Rs. 2,800 on Friday) and minimum Rs 700 per quintal (Rs 1,000 on Friday).

On Thursday, maximum and minimum prices paid per quintal of special mirchi were Rs 5,600 and Rs 4,100; on Wednesday Rs 6,000 and Rs 4,000; on Tuesday Rs 6,500 and Rs 4,300, and on last Monday (February 5) Rs 6,700 and Rs 4,200, respectively.

On Thursday farmers sold common mirchi varieties at a maximum of Rs 5,500 and a minimum of Rs 3,400; on Wednesday at a maximum of Rs 5,700 and Rs 3,400; on Tuesday at a maximum of Rs 6,200 and a minimum of Rs 3,400 and on last Monday at a maximum of Rs 6,300 and a minimum of Rs 3,400 per quintal.

The maximum and minimum prices paid for white mirchi on Thursday were Rs 3,000 and Rs 800, respectively; on Wednesday Rs Rs 3,000 and Rs 800; on Tuesday Rs 3,000 and Rs 500 and on last Monday Rs 3,000 and 900 per quintal, respectively.

M Sivaramaiah, special grade secretary, market yard, said 50,000 tikkis (bags) arrived at the market yard hinting at start of the peak season. Over a lakh tikkis arrive at the yard every day during the peak time. He said farmers sold 80,244 quintals at a maximum of Rs 7,400 and a minimum of Rs 3,400 in January.

He attributed The fall of mirchi prices to lack of export orders. Of the 12-15 countries, only Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka had so far made purchases. China needs our mirchi but it is yet to begin imports. It is hoped that China would buy our mirchi after its New Year.

He said farmers of UP and MP, particularly those in Indore, are reported to to have reaped bumper crops this season. Farmers are also rushing to the yard with not properly dried up fresh crop. These factors also pushed down prices.