JOIN USWith less yield of chilli crop and more price, the eighth edition of Chilli Mela which concluded in the City on Monday recorded comparatively less sales of chilli.
In the event held last year, 1.43 lakh kgs of red chilli worth Rs 2.37 crore was sold. This year, around 60,000 kgs of chilli worth Rs 1.08 crore was sold at the three-day event held at Moorusaviramutt High School ground.
"As the yield is less this time, farmers are getting good price for chilli at their villages. Price of chilli was more compared to previous years," said Karnataka State Spices Development Board (KSSDB) General Manager (marketing) Umesh Mirji.
As the yield is less, the price of Dyavanur Kaddi chilli is Rs 200 per this time, and it was Rs 150 last year, a farmer said.
The number of farmers who participated in this year's Chilli Mela was also not as expected.
The programme ran into controversy at the inauguration itself, as KSSDB Chairperson Shashikala Kavali charged that Rs 21 crore meant for the board was misappropriated, and officials are not co-operating for the development of the board.