Kolkata: The prices of lemon have more than doubled in a matter of 10 days owing to poor supply from southern states, especially Tamil Nadu, where untimely rain damaged standing crops. With the temperature rising in Bengal, the demand for lemon has spiked, leading to a bigger demand-supply gap.
Lemons, which are usually sold for Rs 1.5-Rs 2 a piece, are now going for Rs 4-Rs 5 a piece. “The smaller lemons, which I used to buy for Re 1 each, now cost Rs 4 a piece,” said Raktim Thakur, a teacher.
“Lemon price has risen sharply, especially over the past five days, due to drop in supply.
It has come down from 15 trucks a day to barely three trucks a day,” said Kamal De, president West Bengal Vendors’ Association and member of Bengal Market Task Force for state government. “The supply may dwindle further and we will have to wait for Bengal’s own harvest in mid-April.”
"The price hike is abnormal, possibly unprecedented. Government departments should probe whether it owes to natural factors (like a dip in production) or is a result of unfair trade practices.-Timesview"
Bengal’s kagzi lebu (lime) will soon flood the market but its demand is not high. Gandhraj, exclusively produced in South 24 Parganas, is costlier due to its high export potential.
