Lemon price: pests, rains and abnormal weather causing the shortage

Lemon is one of the great protagonists of Peruvian gastronomy; however, in recent weeks many have had to limit their consumption due to the increase in its price due to shortages. In this regard, the producers of this citrus fruit in chulucanas revealed its deficiency is the result of the coastal El Niño Phenomenon (FEN), pests and abnormal weather. “The problem is that there is no outcropping. Lemons have to be prepared since April, but due to the rains, which knocked down the flower, today there is a shortage,” explained local farmer Alejandro López, who said that normally the 500-lemon box it costs S/20 soles; However, currently its price amounts to S/150.

Another of the reasons that triggered the shortage is the abnormal weather, which brings with it plagues of mite, red spider mite and leafminerexplained the lemon producer Vladimir Chávez Gallardo.

Lack of water

Unfortunately, the problem does not end there. For decades the farmers Chulucanenses face a problem with the irrigation system. “There is no support from the Executive, they promise and do nothing. To produce lemon, I have to buy an hour of water at 35 soles and, at least, I need to water 6 times, which is 8 hours of water,” explained Alejandro López.

For the farmer Néstor Calle Córdova, for all these reasons the lemon production it would have gone down to 95%. “The only solution is to use tube wells because there is no river water. We have a project in Alto Piura that has been under management for more than 60 years and it does not come out,” he said. Currently, farmers reveal that the amount of citrus fruit is minimal. “By this time, we should already be selling, all this would be full,” said Vladimir Chávez.

price increase

Faced with this situation, in the markets very few stalls offer lemons and, if there are, their cost rises to 10 soles per page (25 lemons). In the local market piura, where merchants offer the same amount at S/8, S/10 and up to S/15, depending on the size and quality. “We need the government, in investment, because we have a river that is lost water,” emphasized the lemon producer Vladimir Chávez, who revealed that they are hopeful that the next harvest, in November, will be much better. In Trujillothe price of lemon continues to rise and in recent days this product has been in short supply in the different markets, which has generated concern for merchants and housewives.