KHAMMAM : The sudden rains that lashed Khammam district on Tuesday night brought more misery to the chilli farmers, who were already distressed with lack of remunerative prices.
Because of the sudden rains, hundreds of bags of chillies got wet even as farmers tried their best to hurriedly shift their agricultural produce under the tin roofs of the market yard.
“We are hoping that we will get at least `3,000 to `4,000 per quintal, but now our hopes have been shattered,” rued a farmer Islavath Suresh.
Some other farmers were seen drying their chilli produce under the open spaces in the market yard on Wednesday afternoon. “Even for this (drying and repacking into gunnies), we have to pay for labourers. I have lost all my hopes to get at least what I invested,” another farmer from Warangal lamented.
“My chilli was of superior grade. It is of top quality. I sowed Teja and how can I sell away my produce to cheaper prices,” another farmer Sambaiah explained when asked why he did not sell his crop for full one week.
But, following heavy rainfall, he has also lost all his hopes as his produce too got drenched in rain. Hundreds of chilli bags still lie around the two yards as some farmers are not selling their produce anticipating good price in the coming days while traders on the other hand are exploiting those who want to sell their yield and return to their villages.