Telangana's Khammam market yard simmers over chilli prices

KHAMMAM: Khammam market yard, which witnessed violence incidents last year with chilli farmers going on a rampage failing to get remunerative prices, saw similar scenes on Thursday when thousands of farmers locked the yard and raised slogans against the officials.

The purchase at the market yard was suspended for around five hours. Police and revenue officials intervened and normalcy prevailed only after the traders agreed to the farmers demand to some extent. Officials said that around 60,000 bags of chilli was brought to the market yard by thousands of farmers from various districts on Thursday. The market yard officials held the auction and the ‘Jenda Paata’ (minimum bid to follow) started at Rs 9,700 per quintal. However, after few minutes, the commission agents brought down the price to Rs 7,000 to 8,700 per quintal.

Farmers raised their voice against commission agents and also the market yard officials. They locked up the market yard and raised slogans. The yard witnessed tense moments when the farmers ghearoed the officials.  Soon, a large contingent of police was rushed to the yard as a precautionary measure but the farmers did not end the protest. Leaders of Left parties, CPM and other parties too joined the protest. Senior police and revenue officials held discussions with traders and made them agree to pay an additional Rs 200 to all those farmers whose produce was purchased at lower rate.