Guntur: After poor price now rain haunts chilli farmers. The sudden rain in Guntur and other areas of the district became a big worry to the chilli growers.
The chili growers were forced to use tarpaulin covers to save the chilli stock from rain on Tuesday night and the prediction of rain on Wednesday increased the worries about saving the stock. The stock would become wet, damaging the quality of the chillis and it would reduce the market price. The chilli farmers are staying at the Chilli Yard to save the stock from sudden rain.
The chilli yard officials are asking chilli growers to go to their nearest chilli purchase centres and not to bring the produce to Guntur chilli yard from long distances to avoid inconvenience.
The highest rainfall of 36.6 mm was registered in Piduguralla mandal followed by Gurazala with 36 mm, Prathipadu 19.4 mm, Yadlapadu 18.6 mm, Machavaram 16.8 mm, Pedanandipadu 15.8 mm, Sattenapalli 14 mm, Tenali 13.8 mm, Kakumanu 12 mm, Dachepalli 7.8 mm and rest of the mandals of the Guntur district registered simple rainfall.
The state government has started five extra purchase centres in various areas of the state but chilli farmers are still coming to Guntur chilli yard hoping to get a good price due to availability of many purchasers. Their hopes were shattered and they are waiting in the chilli yard for an increase in the price.
Chilli growers K. Satyanarayana and others of Prathipadu lamented that they did not properly sleep on Tuesday night due to heavy winds and sudden rain.
