Chilli purchase resumes in Guntur Mirchi Yard

​Guntur: The state government cancelled holidays for Asia's biggest mirchi yard here and resumed chilli purchases for the convenience of farmers reeling under price plunge.

Though labourers (hamalis) are reluctant to forgo summer holiday, the district administration directed officials to continue chilli purchase following instructions from the state government.

The buying has been going on in the yard from Wednesday and the activity continued on Thursday too. Now there are more than 60,000 bags of chilli stocks in the yard.

The government had earlier declared holidays for Guntur Mirchi Yard from May 16 to June 4, but the move was criticised by Opposition leader YS Jaganmohan Reddy during one-day special session of Assembly who said the government was not concerned with the plight of chilli farmers and went ahead in announcing holidays for the market yard.

Meanwhile, chilli purchases have already started in Nadikudi market yard for the convenience of the farmers of Palnadu region in the district.

Minister for civil supplies Prathipati Pulla Rao, minister for social welfare Nakka Anand Babu on Thursday conducted a review meeting with officials, hamalis and commission agents and traders on functioning of the yard.

Speaking on this occasion, Pulla Rao said that for the first time in the history of Mirchi Yard the government had cancelled the summer holidays and continued chilli purchases. He urged the farmers to avail the facility and sell their stocks immediately.

He again assured the farmers that the government would purchase all the chilli stocks from the farmers.

Minister for social welfare Nakka Anand Babu, Guntur Mirchi Yard chairman Mannava Subba Rao were also present.