Turmeric prices were driven up for the second consecutive day by lower arrivals and stockists rush to cover their needs. Prices increased by Rs 300 a quintal and are now close to Rs 6,000 a quintal.

“Spot turmeric is on an upward trend. The current increase is due to low arrivals. Out of the 6,660 bags that arrived for sales, about 5,600 were sold, with stockists buying 95 per cent of it. The balance was purchased by traders for their local orders. So far no order has been received from merchants in North India. The upward trend will persist till stockists make their purchases,” said Mr R.K.V. Ravishankar, President, Erode Turmeric Merchants Association.

He said that after touching Rs 5,000 a quintal, many farmers have come forward to sell their produce and he expected arrivals to increase in the next couple of days. Only medium variety turmeric is arriving for sale, with farmers retaining fine quality stocks.

He said that price of the finger variety turmeric increased by Rs 800 a quintal in Gobichettipalayam Cooperative Marketing Society, Rs 300 a quintal at the Erode Cooperative Marketing Society and the Hybrid Salem Crop increased by Rs 800 a quintal.

In the Regulated Marketing Committee, the price of finger variety turmeric increased by Rs 820 a quintal and is touching Rs 6,000 a quintal.

Mr P.K. Deivasigamani, President, All India Turmeric Farmers Council, said within 10 days, prices will touch Rs 7,000 a quintal.

Some traders expect arrivals to rise from Wednesday with more number of farmers bringing higher quantity for sale.

At the Erode Turmeric Merchants Association Sales yard, the finger variety fetched Rs 2,386-5,106 a quintal and root variety Rs 2,250-4,869 a quintal.

Salem crop: The finger variety sold at Rs 5,866-6,316, and root variety Rs 5,099-5,526. Of the total arrival of 957 bags, 640 were sold.

At the Regulated Marketing Committee, the finger variety sold at Rs 5,151-5,939 and the root variety Rs 4,878-5,388. All the 566 bags were sold.

At the Erode Cooperative Marketing Society, the finger variety sold at Rs 4,980-5,799 and the root variety at Rs 4,068-5,013. Some 1,084 bags were sold against 1,112 on offer.

At the Gobichettipalayam Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Society, the finger variety sold at Rs 3,589-5,689 and the root variety at Rs 3,510-5,220. All the 68 bags earmarked for sales were sold.