evidence: The rate of desi chilli has gone upto Rs 55,500 per quintal. This is higher than the price of one tola of gold. Compared to a year ago, the same chillies are priced at about Rs 8,000 to Rs 9,000 a quintal. The premiere desi variety was priced at Rs 20,000 a quintal. The price hike has been attributed to lower production across the country, increased demand in the international market and crop damage due to pests. India is the world’s largest producer, consumer and exporter of chillies. Red chilli is grown extensively across Karnataka, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. [...] Chilli is a high investment crop with farmers investing more than Rs 80,000 to Rs 1,00,000 per acre. And farmers in Telangana have become hopeless. The government’s earlier promise of compensation after crop loss in January has not yet been fulfilled. But the farmers continue to seek help from the government.