PRINCE KUMAR
Ranchi, April 17: Summer is here and lemon is one quintessential summer food that you need to keep yourself hydrated. But due to the pinching fuel prices, hike in natural gas prices and destruction of lemon buds due to hailstorms of December in the state, the price of lemons has skyrocketed dramatically, leaving a sour taste in the mouth.
In the city’s market, the price of lemon has risen sharply where a single lemon costs Rs 10.
A wholesale trader of lemon at Daily Market Shamim said that every year, the prices go up during the summer. But this year, due to the destruction of lemon buds in Jharkhand due to the hailstorms during December, the prices have further shot up, taking them to the all-time high prices.
“Due to hike in the prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas, the transportation cost has increased, causing a ripple effect on the price of lemon,” Shamim added.
Another lemon vendor Ajit Singh, who has been selling lemons since 1987, echoed the same and said, “I have never seen such a price hike on lemons. Due to the destruction of lemon buds, we have to import it from outside and it is costing us more because of which I am selling it at Rs 200 to Rs 250 per kg depending on the grade of the lemons.”
Another wholesale trader of lemon at daily market Sarmad said, “The lemon price hike is majorly due to a shortage in supply and high demand during the ongoing summer season. Prices of lemons soared due to the crop loss in Jharkhand. However, the demand for lemon increases in summers which imbalances the already disturbed supply-demand graph.”
Starting from March 22, India is seeing a rise in fuel prices which has pushed transportation costs. Vegetable sellers say that due to the increased transportation cost and the ultimate hike in the buying price, they are bound to sell vegetables at a higher price. This increases the prices of essential commodities, including fruits and vegetables in different parts of the country, making a hole in the pocket of the common man.
“The rate of lemon is as high as Rs 200 to Rs 250 per kg and the summer season has just started. With the increasing fuel prices, don’t know where the prices of all the essential commodities will go. This impacts our budget a lot,” a vegetable buyer said.
