Old crop holds sway at Guntur auctions

A week after the new chilli crop hit the government market yard here, the prices are heading south.

The special varieties of fresh chillis were sold at Rs 5,700 (minimum) and Rs 6,700 (maximum) a quintal in the post-Christmas auctions on Wednesday.

The common varieties of the new crop were auctioned at Rs 4,000-5,900 a quintal. Meanwhile, the old stock of the previous year kept in cold storages fetched farmers Rs 4,850 (minimum) and Rs 6,400 (maximum) a quintal on the same day.

In the seven auction days, 17,576 quintal of the new and the old crop were, which included 1,011 quintal of the special varieties, 2,920 quintal of the common varieties, 902 quintal of old crop (special varieties), 7,681 quintal of old crop (common varieties) and 5,062 quintal of old crop white chillis (lower quality).

Initial estimation by the Guntur Chilli Merchants' Association put the new crop hectarage at 55,000 and the crop size at 80-90 lakh 'tikkis' (48 kg bags).