Vijayapura: The price of necessary commodities as well as fuel is increasing by the day. After other veggies now it is turn of lemon. The price of lemon has been increasing since last two months.
As it is summer people use it more to make juice and also using it as medicine to increase immunity of body to prevent infection of Covid.
On Monday May 2 the price of lemon touched all time high at Vijayapura Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) market. A bag containing 1000 lemons auctioned to whopping Rs. 8000. The normal price in wholesale market was Rs. 300 to 400 per 1000 lemons. Normally it is valued through weight. But the extreme demand and shortage of supply changed the valuation method of lemon. The price of lemon is not only high in State but it is high through out the country.
Vijayapura is the largest lemon producing District in the State. According to State Horticulture Department information the State produces 3 lakh tonnes of lemon annually of which Vijayapura District’s share is 2 lakh tonnes. Lemon is being grown in 21000 hectares of land in the State. In Vijayapura alone, the lemon is being grown in 16000 hectares of land. In Kodagu, the coffee growers grow lemon as mixed crop in estates. But the production is less and not sufficient for use within the District.
Last year there was no demand for lemon, even growers threw lemon onto highway in protest against price fall. The growers are also in distress owing to price fall, climatic conditions and diseases which affects yield. This year the farmers are getting high price but yield is less. Though farmers are happy with the price, the consumers are hedding tears to pay Rs. 10 to 11 per lemon.
