Africa-Press – Uganda. Immature lemons are flooding Gulu markets following the increasing demand for the fruit.
Lemons and other fruits are selling like hot cake during the Covid-19 pandemic because they, together with other items, boost immunity and lowers one’s risk of contracting the virus.
The demand has led to skyrocketing prices. One lemon fruit that used to be sold at Shs200 in Gulu City now goes for Shs1,000 or Shs2,000 depending on the size.
Ms Christine Apiyo, a resident of Pece Vanguard, who has in the past one year made lemons a constant on her shopping list, said she recently bought two kilogrammes of meyer lemons (seedless lemons that contain a lot of juice) from Gulu Main Market, but she couldn’t get the juice out of them.
“I was disappointed because I spent Shs10,000 to buy the lemons,” Ms Apiyo said.
Mr Joseph Okello, a resident of Layibi Central, said a vendor sold to him poor quality lemons twice.
“I now tell her to cut a sample of them before I can buy,” Mr Okello said.
Mr Tonny Oyepa, a vendor, said he buys a basin of lemons from Oyam District at Shs 10,000 and gets a profit of between Shs25,000 and Shs30,000.
Mr Oyepa, who has been vending lemons for the past three years, said he sells at least three basins daily, which earns him a minimum profit of Shs75,000.
He said farmers are now harvesting immature lemons because of the high demand from within and the neighbouring countries such as Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania.
According to Mr Oyepa, the buyers from other East African countries move from village to village, buying the product.
Mr Leuben Kafeero, a fruits and vegetable farmer, said farmers are being forced to harvest immature lemons because the fruit is being stollen from their gardens.
