Price of a kilo of limes climbs from MVR 25 to MVR 70 in a month

The price of limes – a staple in Maldivian cuisine – has climbed from MVR 25 to MVR 70 per kilo within the space of a single month.

A vendor at the local market in Male’ told Sun on Saturday afternoon that the price of limes began to rise two days back.

He believes the price hike resulted from a shortage of limes in the market.

The vendor is currently selling limes for the rate of MVR 70 per kilo, but expects the price will fall once new lime shipments come in.

Another vendor who spoke to Sun was selling limes at the rate of MVR 65 per kilo.

The price of limes was MVR 25 per kilo a month back.

The current rise in the price of limes comes after it shot up to as high as MVR 130 per kilo back in June.

The Maldivian capital has been seeing an overall rise in food prices. According to the data for November, the price of food rose by 0.16 percent, and the price of beverages by 2.91 percent compared to last year.

The Maldives is heavily dependent on imports, spending heavily on fuel and food.

In September, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s cabinet approved the bulk import of 23 essential food items through the State Trading Organization (STO) for sale in the Maldivian market– in a move the government said is aimed at stabilizing the food prices and boosting food security in the Maldives.

In October, the company began the sale of the shipments of these food products it imported under the new policy, which includes onion, ginger, carrots, lettuce, potato, cabbage, pumpkin, garlic, eggplant, apple, orange, bananas, lime, mango, watermelon, grapes, papaya, chili, chicken eggs, coconut, dhal, and turmeric.