Asia’s largest chilli yard has been caught in a fresh controversy, with chilli commission agents alleging foul play in the renewal of trade licences.
The Agriculture Market Committee (AMC) in Guntur caters to farmers from both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana who take their produce (chillies) to the market yard and keep the stock at shops of commission agents for sale in the open auction system.
Traders who quote the highest rate are confirmed by the AMC auction staff. At present, there are 582 commission agents, and since 2005-2006, no new licenses have been issued owing to the ban. Since no new licences are issued, commission agents change partnerships due to financial instability and old age and submit an application to the AMC.
Guntur Chilli Merchants Association president Kilaru Rosaiah accused AMC secretary K. Narahari of willfully dragging the issue of renewal of licences to 193 commission agents for the last one year and coercing commission agents to pay exorbitant fee. Stating that there was a uniform licence system under the A.P Markets Act and Rules 1969 in which licences are issued for a period of five years, Mr. Rosaiah said Form-8 of the Act only stated that the licences were not transferable but added that there were no restrictions on the change of partners.
