Sloganeering by farmers after traders refused to give in to their demand of buying turmeric at Rs 9,000 a quintal disrupted sales on Monday. Farmers confirmed only half of the stocks for sales as traders quoted Rs 6,700 a quintal.

On Saturday, the National Federation of Turmeric Farmers Associations at its conference here had urged the farmers not to sell below Rs 9,000 a quintal.

At the Regulated Marketing Committee, traders quoted below Rs 6,000 a quintal. Subsequently, Farmers Association representatives and farmers raised a hue and cry forcing the officials to cancel the sale. Farmers had to return with the 419 bags they had brought to the auction centre.

The traders said that farmers are expecting prices will improve within a few days and wanted traders to quote more than Rs 9,000.

The farmers held discussion with the Erode Turmeric Merchants Association on Monday noon. Association President R.K.V. Ravishankar said, “We are not getting any upcountry market. Only local spices firms are placing orders and they, too, are demanding the spice for below Rs 7,000 a quintal.”

He also told the farmers that due to heavy rain and flood in North India they are not receiving any orders.

He said prices in Nizamabad and Sangli are below Rs 7,000 a quintal. Only half of the 4,400 bags that arrived were confirmed at the price quoted by the traders. The farmers confirmed only 42 bags for Rs 6686 a quintal.

At the Erode Turmeric Merchants Association Sales yard, the finger variety was sold at Rs 3,606 to Rs 6,432 a quintal, the root variety at Rs 3,506 to Rs 6,194 a quintal.

Salem hybrid crop: The finger variety was sold at Rs 5,817 to Rs 6,990 a quintal, the root variety at Rs 5,317 to Rs 6,394 a quintal. Of the 735 bags that arrived, 340 were sold.

At the Erode Cooperative Marketing Society, the finger variety was sold at Rs 5,899 to Rs 6,686 a quintal, the root variety at Rs 5,799 to Rs 6,260 a quintal. Of the 687 bags that arrived, only four were confirmed for sale by the farmers.

At the Gobichettipalayam Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Society, the finger variety was sold at Rs 5,366 to Rs 6,719 a quintal, the root variety at Rs 5,260 to Rs 6,166 a quintal. All the 18 bags that arrived were sold.

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