Red chilli farmers blocked traffic on Tuesday for a few hours on the Guntur-Chilakaluripeta road (where the market yard is located) in protest against the crash in prices and against the alleged inaction of the State Government in going to their rescue.

Farmers said they resorted to "rasta roko", as the prices had crashed to below Rs 5,000 per quintal for most varieties of red chilli, and they were not even able to recoup the cost of cultivation. At a rough estimate, according to farmers, each farmer had spent Rs 1 lakh or more per acre and the prices for most varieties are in the range of Rs 4,000-5,000 per quintal. The yield per acre is roughly 13-14 quintals, leaving farmers with heavy losses.

Last year, the prices were in the range of Rs 12,000-14,000 per quintal. Farmers in Andhra Pradesh as well as Telangana went in for chilli cultivation on a large scale. One of the reasons for the price crash is said to be lack of export demand, as the crop is good in Pakistan and Bangladesh also this year.

Market intervention : Farmers are seeking market intervention and purchase of chill at Rs 10,000 per quintal by the AP State Markfed (Marketing Federation). A few days ago, State Agriculture Minister P. Pulla Rao promised that the State Government would take up market intervention, but he had not acted on his promise so far, alleged the farmers.

sarma.rs@thehindu.co.in