Markfed issues identity certificates to mirchi farmers

The Market Federation of Andhra Pradesh (Markfed) on Monday embarked on a drive to identify genuine mirchi farmers by giving them applications.

If everything goes well, the Markfed will begin mirchi intervention purchases at the Agricultural Market Yard in Guntur from April 12.

But the government's decision to purchase only 10 quintals of mirchi from each farmer's family is likely to create fresh trouble at the yard where restored auctions are going on after week-long dharnas, rasta rokos and burning of mirchi crop by farmers.

The other guidelines given to the Markfed officials may also put them and farmers on a collision course. A Markfed statement said that it would buy only mirchi, which passes all the guidelines, at the rate Rs 2,300 per quintal. This means that Markfed would purchase only the best variety of mirchi and farmers should meet the following parameters.

The mirchi farmers should produce an identity certificate issued by the mandal revenue officer (MRO) along with particulars of the harvest size. Markfed would buy only red, bright and dry chillies.

Moisture in the crop should not be above 12 per cent. The length of a mirchi fruit should be between 3 cm and 5 cm. Mirchi without stalk should not be above 10 per cent and broken mirchi should not be above 7 per cent.

The percentage of dull, colourless and sub-standard mirchi should not cross 4 and that of seeds separated from mirchi should not cross 3. The tikkis (40 kg bags) should contain less than 2 per cent dust, pest, stones, leaves, wrinkled fruit, mould and other wastes.

Markfed took up the identification of genuine farmers this year as the number of benami farmers (brokers, traders, and commission agents) was alleged to have outnumbered the real farmers last year. The problem led farmers to take to streets many a time.

M Sivaramaiah, special grade secretary, Agricultural Market Yard, told Business Standard that currently 1.52 lakh mirchi tikkis (40 kg bags) were lying at the yard waiting for takers. Farmers' agitation and traders' strike had obstructed auctions during the last two weeks.

He said that 43,43,763 quintals of mirchi were auctioned at the yard during the fiscal 2004-05 (April-March) as against 23,15,817 quintals in 2003-04, against 21,29,401 quintals in 2002-03 and against 19,28,443 quintals in 2001-02.

Meanwhile, exporters sent feelers that AP mirchi has bleak prospects in the export market as it would have to compete with the bumper crop harvested by farmers of Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.

The Telugu Desam Party's MLAs on Monday staged a dharna at the yard, demanding remunerative prices for farmers. These developments only indicate that the troubles of mirchi farmers are far from over before he finally disposes of his harvest and heads homewards.