Lemon price increased by 500%: what are the causes of its shortage?

The lemon is one of the great protagonists of the Peruvian gastronomy; however, in recent weeks, many have had to limit their consumption due to the increase in his price up to 500% for the shortage, indicated the former manager of the Lambayeque Chamber of Commerce, Bagner Salazar. In this context, the producers of Piura revealed the causes of this problem in Peru.

The Economist Bagner Salazar explained to La República that the percentage rate of lemon price increased by 500% compared to 200% registered two months ago. In this regard, he said that the situation could worsen in the following days and, with this, the impact on the basic food basket would be greater. He mentioned that the high cost of lemon generate inflation in the country.

What are the causes of the increase in the price of lemon?

“The problem is that there is no flowering. The lemon you have to prepare it from April; the rainy that we endured that month they knocked down the flower, now there is shortage”, explained Alejandro López, a farmer from Chulucanas, in Piura.

Another factor that triggered the production shortfall of the citrus fruit is the anomalous climate due to the El Niño phenomenonwhich originates pests of mite, red spider and leafminer, explained the lemon producer Vladimir Chávez Gallardo.

Another problem: lack of water

It is important to point out that, for decades, Piura farmers have faced a problem with the irrigation system. “There is no support from ExecutiveThey promise and do nothing. to produce lemonI have to buy an hour of water to S/35 and, at least, I need to water six times, which is eight hours of water,” explained farmer Alejandro López.

By how much did lemon production decrease?

For his part, farmer Néstor Calle Córdova pointed out that the production of lemon would have decreased to 95% “The only solution to have safe water for cultivation is to use tube wells because there is no river water. We have a Alto Piura project which already has more than 60 years in management and is not being executed”, specified the man from the countryside.

What is the price of lemon in Piura?

Faced with this situation, in Piura markets, very few stalls offer lemons and, if there are, their cost rises to S/10 per page (25 lemons). Likewise, its cost increases up to S/15, depending on the size and quality.

When does the next lemon harvest start?

The producer Vladimir Chávez stated that the next lemon harvest it’s in November. “Farmers hope that the situation in this crop change,” Chávez noted.