The Hindu Business Line : Oct-Nov ‘promising’ time to sow red chillies: TNAU

Coimbatore, Oct. 17 Sowing red chillies in the ensuing Tamil month of Ippasi (October-November) looks promising, says Dr N. Raveendran, Project Coordinator of the Domestic and Export Market Intelligence Cell (DEMIC) functioning at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.

Sharing details of a study on the market scenario and price behaviour of the red chilli in major markets such as Virudhunagar, Ramnad, Paramakudi, Thoothukudi and Chennai, he said the econometric analysis of the historical data show that the price would range between Rs 47 and Rs 50 during the harvest season.

Good demand coupled with meagre stock would keep the prices firm at around these levels during January and May 2009.

But the fundamental market study signals a sharp drop in the price to around Rs 40 a kg. The fall is subject to a bumper production of more than 12 lakh tonnes, which again could be realised due to the onset and distribution of the north east monsoon with adequate rainfall. “Farmers could then take advantage of the price hike during the off-season by joining together and stocking the produce,” he said.

Acreage increase

In 2007-08, the acreage under chilli increased marginally from 7 lakh hectares to 7.2 lakh hectares. Rising export demand coupled with better rates in the domestic market appears to have motivated growers to expand the crop area.

The production target of 14 lakh tonnes could not be achieved due to floods at harvesting time in Andhra Pradesh, a major chilli-producing State. It stood at 12.5 lakh tonnes.

Raised mostly as a rainfed crop, the planting season commences in October and continues till end-November in Tamil Nadu.

Arrivals

The arrivals in the market normally starts with the first crop from Madhya Pradesh in mid October, followed by Karnataka (Byadgi) in November, Maharashtra in December and from Andhra and Tamil Nadu in January. Arrivals extend till mid May. The peak arrivals are reported during March- April.

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Oct-Nov ‘promising’ time to sow red chillies: TNAU