Lime priced MVR 70 per kilo three days ago rises to MVR 80 per kilo; carrot prices also rise

The price of lime has risen to MVR 85 per kilo within just three days.

On Saturday, the price of lime stood at MVR 70 per kilo. However, a seller told Sun on Wednesday that the price of lime is currently priced between MVR 80 to MVR 85.

Another seller told Sun that the price of lime is currently priced at MVR 80 per kilo, adding that the price hike began a few days back.

The seller also reported that price of carrots has also begun increasing, with a kilo previously priced at MVR 30 now at MVR 55. In this regard, the seller said the price of carrots began rising four days ago.

According to the seller, the price of these commodities has risen due to a shortage following shipment delays. The seller also linked the price hike to increasing US dollar rates.

The price of lime and carrots rose at the end of November as well, priced at MVR 40 per kilo.

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.