Ranchi: Amid the rise in mercury, prices of fruits in the city’s markets have risen sharply but the supply is still not able to meet the increasing demand.
In a TOI survey of the markets, prices of apples and pomegranates have seen a jump of 40 to 50% in the last month. Apple prices increased from Rs 100 to Rs 150 to Rs 200 per kg.
Another fruit that has seen a steep price rise is pomegranate, which is now available at Rs 140 and Rs 160 per kg, up from Rs 100 earlier, depending on the grade. The only relief is the decrease in watermelon price. It now costs Rs 25 per kg which used to cost Rs 40 earlier this month.
The price rise has, however, not stopped the surge in demand, causing an imbalance in the already skewed supply-demand graph.
Most fruit vendors attributed the price rise to a supply deficit and a surge in demands from the residents because of the festivals and the rising temperatures.
Santosh Gupta, a fruitseller at the Naga Baba Khatal, said, “The increase in the price is mostly due to the lack of supply deficit and increased demand during the current summer season and festivities, including the ongoing Ramadan. We are compelled to offer fruits at a higher price because of the lack of stocks.”