The damaged crop, due to unseasonal rains in state, has pushed price of lemons at APMC to Rs 3 per piece; retailers charging Rs 4 to Rs 5 a piece
The price of lemons has doubled in the last one month, making consumers pay through the nose to enjoy lemon soda or juice during summers.
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Nimbu Pani, a favourite beverage in the hot summer, may bear the brunt of the rise in prices. File pic
According to vegetable traders from Vashi Agricultural Produce and Marketing Committee (APMC), there has been a decrease in the produce in Maharashtra, because of which the price has increased.
Lemons that were selling for Rs 150 for 100 pieces about a month back have now touched Rs 300, i.e. Rs 3 per piece. Speaking to mid-day, Ramesh Datir, a vegetable wholesaler of APMC said, “Presently, the produce of lemons is coming from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
The hailstorm and unseasonable rains destroyed a large portion of the crop in Maharashtra. Since we are importing it from south, the transportation cost is increasing the price of lemons.”
Summer spoils
A senior official from APMC said that during summers, the price of vegetables usually goes up as there is high chance of greens getting spoilt sooner. “As it is the cost of lemons have increased due to import costs.
Moreover, in summers the vegetables tend to decay faster and the quantity is bound to decrease. Hopefully, by June-July, once the rains start the price of lemons should stabilise.”
Meanwhile, consumers are bearing the brunt of the rise in lemon prices. Thane resident, Deepika Sahu said, “During my weekly trip to the vegetable market, I was surprised to hear the vendor charging R20 for four lemons. I ended up buying only two as I didn’t want to buy vegetables at such high cost.”
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