A controversy over a trader quoting a lot of turmeric offered for sale at the Regulated Marketing Committee yard here on Monday is threatening to affect the trade.

According to Mr R.K.V. Ravishankar, President of Erode Turmeric Merchants Association, until the issue is solved amicably, traders will not bid for any tender from Tuesday at the Regulated marketing Committee.

On Monday, a trader quoted a lot number wrongly for a tender. When it was read at the auction sale yard, the trader said he had committed a mistake by giving the wrong lot number. (For example, instead of quoting lot number 40, he quoted it as 41.) Therefore, he urged the committee officials to cancel his bid.

The committee officials refused to cancel his bid, stating that farmers are objecting to it. They said once a price was quoted for a lot, the trader who had bid for it should make the purchase. But traders said that he quoted the wrong lot by mistake and refused to buy the produce.

Due to this, the auction was stopped for few minutes. Talks were held between the traders, farmers and Regulated Marketing Committee officials.

Traders said they would decide on the issue late on Monday night at an urgent meeting.

Farmers, on the other hand, said due to the decision, they have been affected. They urged the traders to review their stand and solve the issue. Some farmers said that they would represent their case with the district collector.

Traders have now asked the Regulated Marketing Committee authorities to place the whole lot (bags) in the auction ground as in vogue at the Attur Cooperative Marketing Society in Salem instead of placing one kg sample lot.

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