Erode, May 31:
Reports of turmeric being cultivated in Assam and the crop being harvested now sent markets in Erode into a tizzy on Thursday.
“Over
three lakh bags harvested in Assam are likely to be sent to Delhi and
Karnataka markets, we are told,” said Mr R.K.V. Ravishankar, President
of Erode Turmeric Merchants' Association.
If such
arrivals reach north Indian towns, turmeric prices will drop further as
no merchant there will place orders for the Erode crop. Further, the
arrival of hybrid varieties has decreased and only lower quality
turmeric is coming for sale, he said. Prices of hybrid varieties of
turmeric decreased by Rs 450 a quintal.
“There is no
possibility of prices rising now, as arrivals in all markets have
increased. In Erode, the arrival was around 12,000 bags. Further, 70
lakh bags still remain with farmers,,” said Mr Ravishankar.
At
the Erode Turmeric Merchants' Association sales yard, the finger
variety sold at Rs 2,300-3,536 a quintal, and the root variety, at Rs
2,229-3,439.
Salem crop: The finger variety
sold at Rs 3,369-3,669, and the root variety, at Rs 3,169-3,498. Of the
632 bags that arrived, 401 were sold.
At the
Regulated Marketing Committee, the finger variety sold at Rs
3,229-3,571, and the root variety, at Rs 3,164-3,434. Of the 1,188 bags
that arrived, 1,133 were sold.
At the Erode Cooperative Marketing Society, the finger variety fetched Rs 2,801-3,610, and the root variety, Rs 2,772-3,440.
Of the 1,047 bags kept for sales, 1,030 were sold.
At
the Gobichettipalayam Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Society, the
finger variety sold at Rs 3,039-3,716, and the root variety, at Rs
2,869-3,426. All the 353 bags of turmeric kept for sale were sold.