Lemon is one vegetable/fruit item that is present in all the Indian kitchens. Lemon is used in many different ways in Indian cuisine, it is used in cooked vegetables, put on the salad, mixed with water/soda and served as a drink, and many more uses.
In the last few weeks, the price of the lemons has skyrocketed, and this is directly affecting one of the favourite drinks of summer ie Nimbu Paani. In the retail market in some Indian cities, the price of lemon has touched Rs 20 per piece, and in other areas, its retail price varies from Rs 10 to Rs 15 per piece. The humble nimbu paani drink has turned into luxury this summer. Many reasons are attributed to ballooning the lemon price in the market such as increased demand, less harvest, damage to the crops, hike in fuel prices etc.
As per Maharashtra state agricultural department, “The unconducive atmosphere and extremely hot conditions for a prolonged period have impacted the harvest of lemons this year. It has impacted the market supply and thus prices have gone up.”
Why are Lemons costly now ?
Last year’s monsoon was good but the months of September and October had brought heavy rainfalls, affecting the lemon farming. The failure of Ambe Bahar and Hasta Bahar resulted in a lower harvest. Lemon orchards could not bear heavy rainfall because they are sensitive to excess moisture. In the initial phase of Ambe Bahar, a drop in yield was reported and high temperatures cause the fall of younger fruits in February.
Lemon is generally stored in cold storage. The fruit is normally kept in cold storage and marketed till Ambe Bahar arrives. Currently, the stored fruits are feeding the market. India produces about 17% of the world’s lemon The country produces over 37 lakh tones of fruit every year. It is grown in orchards spanning a combined 3.17 lakh acres across the country. Lemon trees give fruit thrice a year. Andhra Pradesh tops the list of highest lemon growing states followed by Maharashtra, Gujarat, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu. Interestingly, India consumes lemon domestically and is neither exported nor imported. The fruit is broadly divided into two categories, lemon, and lime.
Most suitable climate for Lemon
A warm, moderately dry, and moist climate is favourable for lemon harvesting. Heavy rainfall negatively impacts fruit growth. Generally, about 210-250 lemon trees are planted on an acre of land, and orchards yield their first fruit after 3 months of planting. On average, around 1000-1500 fruits can be yielded by a single tree.
Three cycles of lemon
Rich in vitamin C and electrolytes, Lemon is considered the most beneficial fruit in the summer. Every year, lemon is grown in three cycles or bahars. The three bahars are Ambe, Mrig, and Hasta. The Ambe bahar includes the January-February months when flowering starts and fruit formation happens in April. The Mrig bahar involves the blooming of orchards during June-July and harvesting in October. During the Hasta bahar, orchards bloom in September-October, with harvest happening post march. However, these cycles overlap as well.
Presently there is a fall in demand to the tune of 35%, the retail and wholesale hiked prices remain the same. It continues to cost between Rs 360 and Rs 400 a Kg in retail , while prices are between Rs 150 and Rs 200 per Kg in the wholesale market. Farmers and traders considered this as one of the rarest year when two consecutive bahars have failed. Presently Ambe bahar is cycling the market but may not be sufficient to meet the demand. The Ambe bahar contributes the most to feed the market. The correction of prices will not happen immediately.
Waiting for your views on this blog.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
19th April 2022