Bengaluru: Karnataka’s worsening drought situation is now squeezing consumers where they feel it most — in the kitchen. The humble lemon, an everyday staple in households and a particularly important ingredient during the festive season, has turned very expensive, with prices going up fourfold in the past few days as supplies dwindle.Sources in the Horticultural Producers’ Cooperative Marketing and Processing Society (Hopcoms) and Karnataka State Lime Development Board (KSLDB) said lemon prices are likely to climb further in the weeks ahead. Lemon production has plunged by nearly 60%, primarily in north Karnataka and parts of south Karnataka, amid prolonged dry conditions. With little fresh yield expected in the coming months, consumers could be staring at further price increases.By the end of last week, lemons were retailing at Rs 340-350 per kg in Bengaluru, compared with the usual Rs 75-90 per kg. “This festive season, prices have shot up alarmingly, putting the everyday kitchen staple out of reach for many consumers,” said a trader at a Hopcoms outlet in the central business district (CBD) area. At the wholesale level, good-sized lemons are currently being sold for Rs 12-15 a piece, while smaller lemons cost Rs 7-8. Retailers add another Rs 3-4 per fruit towards margins and logistical expenses, the trader said.Prolonged dry spellScientists at KSLDB said lemons can be harvested throughout the year if plants receive adequate irrigation and are grown in warm conditions. However, the prolonged dry spell has badly affected production in Karnataka’s major lemon-growing districts. “There has hardly been any rainfall, barring a few spells of pre-monsoon showers, in Vijayapura, Bagalkot, Kalaburagi and Yadgir — the four districts that account for nearly 60-70% of Karnataka’s lemon production. If the plants are irrigated adequately, new shoots develop, followed by flowering. The fruits appear around two months after flowering,” explained Rahulkumar Bhavidoddi, managing director of KSLDB.However, prolonged summer conditions left farmers unable to irrigate their plantations adequately, affecting plant growth. The subsequent weak monsoon further damaged flowering and fruiting, he said.Output falls to nearly halfKarnataka, the fourth-largest lemon producer in India, normally produces 3-4 lakh tonnes of lemons annually. This year, however, production has fallen to just 1.5-1.6 lakh tonnes, creating a severe supply deficit and pushing prices sharply upwards. “Normally, lemons are sold in 70kg bags for Rs 1,000-1,500. Now, the same bag costs Rs 4,000-4,500,” said a lemon trader from Vijayapura.The price spike comes at a particularly difficult time for consumers. “With the continuous festive season, lemons are required for both rituals and in kitchens. But this season, it will be difficult for consumers to get them at affordable prices,” the trader said.
