Kolhapur is famous for the production of red chilis. At present, the 'byadagi' red chilies are being sold at Rs 500 to 700 per kg in the market. The supply of red chilis has been hit due to unseasonal rain, pest infestation, and a 30% drop in farm production. Also, at times, the farmers opt for cold storage and then bring the produce to the market when the prices are high.
Akshay Satija, an Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) trader: "Although the demand for chilis is high, the supply has been badly hit. We have been trading red chilies for the past 35 years but have never seen such a supply shortage."
One red chili retail seller at Laxmipuri market in Koihapur said: "At Koihapur APMC, on an average,1,000 to 1,500 sacks of red chilies arrive every week. Kolhapur witnesses the highest sale of red chilies in the Southwest Maharashtra region. Customers and traders from Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, Pune, Konkan, and North Karnataka purchase red chilis in wholesale quantity from Kolhapur."
[ Rs 100 = €1.20 ]
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com