Rs 120 per kg: Green chillies burn holes in consumers' pockets

Devanahalli: Using green chilies in your curries will not only burn your mouth but also burn a hole in your pockets. A kilo of this must-have spice in Indian kitchens has reached  Rs 120.

Yes, you heard it right! The market price of green chillies has risen to Rs 120 per kg, a three-fold rise in price in the past 3 weeks. The spice is usually for Rs 30-40 per kg.

The supply of green chillies has dried up in the local markets, raising the prices higher, traders said.

Farmers and traders also sight the unseasonal rain for the price rise. Unseasonal rains reduced the crop yield, they said. The chilli crop is afflicted by disease due to the erratic weather, they added.

This has affected the margins of the hotel industry, which is already in dire straits due to fuel inflation.