Kozhikode: The price of lime is witnessing a steep rise in the Kozhikode market as the summer season has arrived. While a kg of limes cost between Rs 40-60 till a couple of weeks ago, the rate gradually increased to Rs 150-200 now. In fact, presently, customers have to pay Rs 10 for a single lime.
“Lime arrives in Kerala markets from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Over the last few days, the supplies fell while the demand increased. The two-day general strike towards the end of March made matters worse,” said a shop-keeper in Kozhikode.
“On the days before the strike, local traders stopped ordering limes and on the day after the protest, the item went completely out-of-stock in the Kozhikode market,” he explained.
Meanwhile, demand for lime has increased to prepare ‘sherbet’ and ‘lime soda’, which too led to the price hike.
Pickle manufacturers are also big customers of limes. However, many small-scale units have stopped purchasing limes considering the steep prices.