A flash strike by chilli merchants brought trading to a halt at the Asia’s largest chilli yard here on Tuesday. The traders relented only after talks with the Commissioner, Marketing, and Agricultural Market Committee (AMC) officials.
The AMC said the traders’ refusal to comply with the new guidelines under the e-trading system had led to the situation.
‘AMC looking into issue’
“The traders feel that e-trading is delaying the process of sale. Under the new system, the trader has to enter the details of his licence, bid price and the final price online. The system has been introduced to check irregularities in trading, and we are addressing the reasons for the delay,’’ said AMC secretary M. Divakara Rao.
For the farmers, the sudden decision to close the yard came as a double whammy at a time when the model prices of chilli had crashed. “I have come from Vinukonda hoping to sell the produce, but we have been not allowed to go inside,’’ said Biku Naik, a chilli farmer.Traffic on the road leading to Hyderabad was paralysed as trucks carrying loads of chilli were stopped at the gates of the yard. Agitated farmers demanded that they be allowed inside the yard.
Commissioner, Marketing, Mallikarjuna Rao said a meeting would be held soon with the traders and cold storage managements.
Efforts would be made to re-open the yard as soon as possible, he added.
