Traders switching over to buying of turmeric from Andhra Pradesh at lower prices continue to put pressure on the spice sold in Erode markets. Farmers also are keen to sell here and some stockists are taking advantage of their situation by purchasing heavily. “Though arrivals of turmeric in the four markets increased, prices are declining. Farmers are ready to sell, and buyers purchasing limited stocks quoting low prices. This is since they have not yet received any fresh orders from North India,” said R.K.V. Ravishankar, President, Erode Turmeric Merchants Association. He said since the commodity is available at lower prices than Erode at Nizamabad and Warangal in Andhra Pradesh, upcountry merchants are buying stocks from there . Of 3,600 bags arrived, over 2,300 were sold. Prices of both varieties decreased by Rs 200 a quintal. Even the hybrid variety decreased by Rs 250. At the Erode Turmeric Merchants Association Sales yard, the finger variety sold at Rs 3,496-6,295, the root variety at Rs 3,436-5,664.
Salem Hybrid Crop
The finger variety was sold at Rs 5,864-6,817. The root variety Rs 5,664 -6,000. At the Regulated Marketing Society, the finger variety sold at Rs 5,239-6,289, the root variety at Rs 5,072-6,039. Of the 1,004 bags, 965 were sold. At the Gobichettipalayam Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Society, the finger variety sold at Rs 5,319-6,390 a quintal, the root variety Rs 4,596-5,899. All the 431 bags were sold.
At the Erode Cooperative Marketing Society, the finger variety sold at Rs 5,460-Rs 6,199, the root variety Rs 4,639-6,019..