Pepper farmers are unwilling to part with their produce at the current price levels. This has impacted arrivals to the terminal market.

Though the prices remained steady at ₹305 per kg in Kochi on Friday, the offtake was hardly seven tonnes.

According to Kishore Shamji of Kishor Spices, unhappy with the current prices the farmers are not bringing their stock in the primary markets, forcing dealers to move only a limited quantity to the terminal market.

On the other hand, major buyers in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Delhi continue to remain in the hotspot zones unable to operate their processing facilities. This has resulted in slow buying. Papad manufactures, who work in small groups as cottage industries to supply finished products to big companies, are also unable to operate in the present restricted environment, he said.

Traders hope that things will improve when curbs on transportation are lifted. Also, many migrant labourers who reached their destinations are now having a second thought of returning to their workplaces. It is expected that more movements will take place after Ramadan, he added.

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