Unseasonal rains hit Warangal chilli market

The unseasonal rains have badly hit trading in the chilli market in Warangal district for the past one week. Arrivals in the market have seen a drastic fall from 5,000 quintals a day to 2,200 quintals till March 6, 2006, after the rains lashed the district.

The seriousness of the situation can be gauged from the fact that the purchases in the first 10 days of March were only 11,652 quintals as against 32,000 quintals in the corresponding month of the last year. During March 2005, the market saw a brisk purchase transactions to the tune of 96,466 quintals.

According to market chairman T Ramesh Babu, even the prices are not optimistic as they hover around Rs 1,546-1,605 per quintal for different varieties. The GT and Wonder Hot varieties of chilli are chiefly produced in the district.

During 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 seasons, the two varieties contributed more than 50 per cent of the total chilli produce at 2.66 lakh and 2.31 lakh quintals respectively.

However, the production of these two varieties declined so drastically since December 2005 that only 2,000 quintals were purchased till March 10 this year.

Ramesh Babu said the decline was probably due to the induction of eight new varieties by farmers in the district. Now, 15 varieties of chillies are grown in the district.

The new varieties "� Agni Rekha, Beeja Sheetal, Teja, Endophy, US 341 and Thufan "� have been sown in large extents in the region and the average minimum price for these produces was recorded between Rs 3,500 and Rs 4,000 per quintal as against Rs 2,550 for other varieties. Though the desi variety chilly commanded top prices during 2004-2005 and 2003-2004 in the market, their produce had slumped this year, he added.

Market committee chairman T Ramesh Babu said the unhelpful weather conditions at the peak pruning period adversely impacted chilli crop in almost 17 revenue mandals of the district.

Predicting a grim senario for chilli market in the coming seven days, he did not rule out damage to the standing crop too.