Lemon turns costly on tight supply in Visakhapatnam

In private markets, one fruit is being sold for more than ₹10

The prices of lemon have skyrocketed in Visakhapatnam. According to the the Marketing Department officials, due to the shortage in supply and high demand this summer, the price of one kg of lemon has become double when compared to the previous month. In private markets, one lemon is being sold for more than ₹10. A thing never experienced before..

As on Thursday, one kg of lemon was being sold for ₹160 at Rythu Bazaars in the city. Around, a month ago, the price of same quantity was about ₹80 to ₹100. People were shocked to find 250 grams of lemon for ₹40, which would contain five to six lemons at MVP Rythu Bazaar.

“This is for the first time, I have seen prices of lemon increasing. May be because of the summer. If we purchase outside, four lemons are being sold at ₹50, which is shocking. About a month ago, we used to get four big sized lemons at ₹10,” said P. Jayaram, a resident of MVP Colony.

Estate officer of MVP Rythu Bazaar, G. Prasad Rao said that he is also seeing such price hike for the citrus fruit for the first time.

“We get lemons from Gudur and Nellore district. There was a severe shortage in supply of lemons allegedly due to low crop production this year, which led to rise in prices. However, as per the information, the prices may become normal in the coming two weeks,” the Estate Officer added.

“For an instance, many rythu bazaars require about 5 quintals of lemons per day in Visakhapatnam. In summer months, about five to eight quintals of lemon would be sold, as people buy more quantity to prepare juices to beat the heat,” an official said.

Eswara Rao, a lemon trader from Akkayyapalem, said that due to shortage in supply from Gudur, he is procuring lemons from Rajamahendravaram and Tuni.