Lemon farmers and traders across the country are reaping big from the fruits following the outbreak of the second wave of COVID-19.

The high demand follows the advice of renowned medics and health analysts who noted that taking lemon juice boosts the body’s immunity, thereby reducing the effects of COVID-19.

Along the village paths and roads across Busoga region, motorcycles, pickups and lorries laden with sacks and baskets are a common sight.

From the remote villages of Buyende, Kaliro, Namutumba, Kamuli and Pallisa districts, dozens of trucks snake to major urban centres, including Kampala, Jinja, Masaka and other cities.

The green tender fruits, most of which are harvested at the size of a baby’s fist, are now on high demand, owing to the escalated COVID-19 infections in the country.

According to Dr Fredrick Kabbale, the District Production Officer for Buyende, farmers who have lemon trees are reaping from the fruits which have for decades been despised and termed as less profit-making.

“The demand went up after President Yoweri Museveni announced the fresh lockdown. Traders poured in, searching for fruits, forcing farm gate prices up,”  Kabbale, told New Vision on Wednesday.

According to Abdu Malik Gumula, an agronomist in Nawampiti-Mairo village in Bukamba sub-county, Kaliro district, the farm gate price per basin is sh10,000 while the 100kg-sack now costs sh50,000.

“Between March and May, a basin cost sh1,000 while a 100kg-bag cost sh8,000 to sh12,000. As of now, the farm gate price per 100kg is between sh80,000 and sh100,000,” Gumula, also, a vet practitioner, said.

Moses Mukasa, a lemon dealer from Kampala told the New Vision that the high demand led to acute scarcity across the supplier districts.

In Kamuli central market, the grocers have shot lemon prices up, selling the fruits in kilos.

“A kilo now costs sh5,000, as opposed to sh1,200 or sh1,500 before the lockdown,” Simon Iridho, the chairperson of Kamuli Market Grocers’ Association (KCMGA) said.

Iridho added that as of now, the wholesale cost for a full sack of 100kg is between 120,000 and 160,000.

Still in Kamuli Central market and Dhizaala Market in Buwenge Mpya zona in Kamuli Municipality, pieces of lemon fruit which earlier cost sh100 and sh500 now sell at sh700 to sh1,500.

In Kampala city, according to Mukasa, a 100kg-sack costs between sh450,000 and sh550,000 in Nakasero, Kalerwe and St Balikuddembe, among other markets, making the enterprise lucrative.

“Buyers come in big numbers, forcing consumption and demand up,” Mukasa said.

FARMERS HAPPY

Petu Namuwaya, 75, a resident of Nabbuku village in Kagulu sub-county, Buyende district who sold three sacks at sh50,000 each, was all smiles on Tuesday.

“I was paid sh150,000, yet I used to get less than sh30,000,” she said.

Namuwaya added that after selling, more traders arrived, offering higher rates. However, the trees had been emptied.

Living Bashoberwa, the model farmer with a two[1]acre orchard, part of which is lemons, said the sales he made this year shall remain in history.

“The enterprise has been the lowest paying, but now the most lucrative one. I bagged more than sh1.5m,” he said.

Stephen Malagala, the Kagulu LC3 chairperson in Buyende, awed at the fact that the traders are harvesting immature lemons, including those as small as a baby’s fist.

"I wonder why they are jostling for the immature fruits. In the past, the fruits would ripen before harvesting,” Malagala, the singer-turned[1]politician, said.

The District Agricultural Officer for Buyende, Dr Ibanda Mwase, urged the farmers to embrace the crop.

He said: “The practicing farmers are enjoying and by the time the rest wake up, they will have got some good fortune.”

MEDICS SPEAK OUT

Dr Buteraba, the director of St Lawrence House of Health on Lubaga Road in Kamuli Municipality, said: “Lemon juice has been proven to have nutrients, including vitamin C, which promote body immunity. It is no wonder the demnad has increased,” Dr Aggrey Batesaaki, the Assistant Commissioner, Inspection and Compliance at the Ministry of Health also appreciated the use of lemons, ginger, watermelon, garlic and onions, among others, but warned the public against overconsumption.

“Lemon has high acidity, which when consumed in concentrated form and large quantities, can harm the internal organs like the intestines, resulting into ulcers,” Batesaaki said.

“We advise our people not to take lemon juice in large quantities. Being of high acidity, it may crop other health complications,” Batesaaki, also the former District Health Officer for Kamuli, said.