In topsy-turvy season, supply shortage and high demand turn ‘pati’ dearer than ‘kamala’
Times of India | 26 March 2025
12 Kolkata: Kolkata's retail markets are witnessing an unusual price surge in lime, with prices soaring to match those of sweet lime (mosambi) and oranges. Over the past two weeks, lime prices climbed from Rs 4-5 per piece to Rs 9-10, creating a crisis for both consumers and traders.
The sharp increase in prices is attributed to a combination of factors — declining domestic production in Bengal, heavy reliance on supply from Tamil Nadu, and soaring seasonal demand due to summer and the ongoing Ramadan month, when lemons are widely used for preparing lemonade (shikanji).
Despite the availability of substitutes like Kagzi, Gandharaj, and the seedless Chinese lime variety in the market, consumers continue to prefer the original patilebu (local lime), keeping its demand consistently high. "The price of lime gives shock. In summer, the use of lime naturally goes up. Thus, the price of lime burns a bigger hole in our pockets. Hopefully, after Ramadan, the price will ease," said Shankar Das, a school teacher in Chetla.
West Bengal sources nearly 80% of its lime supply from Tamil Nadu. However, for the past two years, there was a production shortfall. This year, excessive rainfall significantly affected lime cultivation, causing widespread flower drop and reducing fruit yield by 20-30%. This supply deficit directly led to higher prices, said Kamal De, president of West Bengal Vendors' Association.
In West Bengal, limes are grown in select regions, including Nadia, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, and parts of Bardhaman. However, local production is not enough to meet the state's overall demand. South 24 Parganas is known for Gandharaj lemons, but production dwindled in recent years.
Subol Saha, a trader at Lake Market, described the ongoing crisis: "For the past 15 days, lime prices have been steadily rising. We sell them at Rs 8-Rs 9 per piece, while smaller traders, with limited purchasing power, sell at Rs 10. The summer heat is also causing limes to rot quickly. A lime that used to cost Rs 2-Rs 3 is now being bought at Rs 5-Rs 6, with nearly 5% of the stock turning bad."
De pointed out that such shortages are common in summer but have worsened due to Ramadan. "Every year, lime prices rise in the summer, but the ongoing fasting month of Ramadan has further pushed up demand. Limes produced in West Bengal are also being sent to other states. However, these locally grown lemons do not match the size or taste of the original Tamil Nadu variety making them less competitive in Kolkata's markets." Traders and consumers alike are hoping for relief in the coming weeks.