Fruit prices in Calcutta are on an upward spiral because of a rise in demand and bottlenecks in the supply chain.

The prices of banana, apple, grape and mosambi have witnessed a sharp spike in the last seven to 10 days, Calcuttans across the city said.

A resident of Sovabazar said he had to pay Rs 30 for four pieces of banana (Katali) on Sunday at the local market. A resident of Kasba echoed him. A resident of Behala said he had to pay Rs 40 for 6 pieces of banana (Katali) on Monday.

Apples, too, have become expensive. The variety that cost Rs 200 a kilo only about 10 days back is now selling for Rs 250.

“I fail to understand why banana prices have shot up so much. The Katali variety grows in Bengal. When I tried to bargain, the seller simply refused to sell,” the Sovabazar resident said.

Asked about the price hike, a trader said: “Saturday was Id-ul-Adha and Monday was Rakhi Purnima. Janmash-tami is approaching. Because of so many festivals, prices remain high during this time. In addition, the supply bottlenecks have further pushed up the prices.”

Bilal Khan, a fruit merchant in Mechua, cited the twice-a-week lockdown in the state as one of the reasons for the rise in fruit prices.

“In May and June, vegetables and fruit markets were kept open. But the latest spell of lockdowns has not exempted fruits or vegetables. Wholesalers are procuring less stock, which in turn means lower supply to retail markets. On the days before each lockdown, the sale in Mechua is low. Fruits are perishable. Traders do not want to keep unsold stock for a day. As a result, there is a dip in procurement,” he said.

Traders at the Jadavgarh market told the Kasba resident that they were buying fruits at higher prices.

Wholesalers said apple prices had shot up as there was a supply shortage from Shimla. “Apples have not grown well this year. So there is a supply shortage. As a result, prices have shot up,” said a wholesaler from Mechua, the biggest wholesale fruit market in Calcutta.

Several traders said they had witnessed a general hike in demand for fruits during the pandemic. To boost immunity, people have been buying citrus fruits like mosambi.

With a surge in demand and drop in supply, the prices have increased.

“I used to buy mosambi regularly for my family. But now I am buying only for my daughter. It is impossible for everyone to have mosambi at a price of Rs 10 per piece,” said a Behala resident.