Kanda lasoon masala turns dearer as less supply & LPG curbs push up spice prices

Kolhapur: A shortage of commercial LPG cylinders and a drop in the supply of key spices have driven up the price of Kolhapur's iconic kanda lasoon masala. Traders said retail prices had already surged by 20-25% compared to last year.Traders said the prices of red chilli, cumin, cloves, coriander, pepper, caraway seeds, nutmeg and dry coconut had risen sharply due to increased demand and limited availability. A decline in global supply of nutmeg and cloves has further contributed to the price hike. "The next two months are the season to make the peak season to make kanda lasoon masala. The demand for all these spices will only increase during this period. If the shadow of war persists for a long time, prices may increase again," Mahesh Nashte, a trader from Laxmipuri market, said.The traders warned that if the situation continued, spice prices might rise by up to 30%, pushing up the cost of kanda lasoon masala chutney and other spice blends.Sneha Jadhav, a masala manufacturer from Kolhapur, said, "Spices are the soul of the kitchen. Last year, the red chili (Byadgi chili) cost was at Rs 300/kg to Rs 400/kg. This year, the same red chilli is Rs 500/kg. Dry coconut was Rs 200/kg; this year, the same is Rs 460/kg, similarly, caraway seeds were Rs 1,100/kg and are at Rs 1,300/kg now. The traders said that prices of spices have gone up as crop was infested by pests and unseasonalrain."She added that the masala chutney requires a largeamount of gas supply for the roasting process. "Due to the increase in raw material costs and gas cylinder supply, we had no other option than to increase the masala cost by 25%. Prices of sambar masala, garam masala, Biryani masala, Pav-bhaji masala have also increased accordingly," she said.This has also resulted in an additional pinch on the pockets of citizens. Manisha Patil, a banker from Rajarampuri said, "Homemade spices are preferred for authentic taste. Being a working professional, I don'tget enough time to make this chutney on my own at home. The ready to use spices sold in the market has increased by 30 percent, disturbing our monthly budget."