Turmeric farmers hit by low prices

Rates stagnating at Rs 2,000 a quintal level.

Turmeric farmers' hope to see a bullish market post-Diwali has been dashed by poor demand. Prices of the commodity have stagnated despite a fall in production.

According to growers, in a normal year, they sell 50 per cent of the crop between March and June, while during september-November, they dispose of 30 per cent crop.

However, this year the demand has been sluggish during the last three months. In Duggirala, prices have stagnated at Rs 1,800-2,000 a quintal.

In Nizamabad, turmeric is quoting at Rs 1,900-2,100 a quintal, in Warangal it is 1,850-1,950 and in Kadapa, prices are ruling between Rs 1,900 and Rs 2,100.

However, in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, the turmeric prices are ruling at higher levels. Framers received Rs Rs 2,100-2,400 a quintal in Erode (TN), and Rs 2,200-2,400 in Sangli. The Rajapuri variety is fetching farmers across the country the highest price of Rs 2,700-2,900.

At the national level, 10-15 lakh bags of turmeric will remain unsold by January. The new crop will arrive in February.

According to an estimate by traders, the total crop size of the spice in the country will be around 40-45 lakh bags, 10 lakh bags less than last year's 55 lakh bags. Andhra Pradesh is likely to produce 19 lakh bags against last year's 23 lakh bags.

Poor crop quality continues to nag farmers at Duggirala. Recent heavy rains and pest menace may lead to lower yields. Farmers in the state have appealed to the Central and the state governments to fix the price of new crop, arriving in February, at Rs 2,500-3,000.

They said that they were incurring losses for the last three years. This year alone, they said, they lost Rs 15,000 an acre.