Bharat Khatiwada, president of Vegetables Wholesalers´ Association in Kalimati market, said arrivals of vegetables in major markets of the capital, including the Kalimati wholesale market, have declined in recent days pushing up vegetables prices. [break]
“Vegetables that earlier used to arrive at the Kalimati market from farms adjoining the capital are making their way to other cities like Pokhara, Chitwan, Birgunj and Butwal where farmers are getting high prices,” Khatiwada told myrepublica.com.
Apart from Kavre, Nuwakot, Dhading, Makawanpur and Tarai districts, markets in the capital source fresh vegetables from different India cities.
Due to slowdown in supplies, prices of popular vegetables have soared as compared to the prices recorded a couple of weeks ago.
According to Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board -- a government authority that oversees management of vegetable market in Kalimati -- prices of popular vegetable items such as potatoes, dry onions, carrot, cauliflower, white radish, brinjals, cow pea and snake gourd have increased over the period.
The wholesale price of red potatoes, white potatoes and dry onion has soared to Rs 26, Rs 24 and Rs 27 per kg from Rs 26, Rs 20 and Rs 25 per kg respectively. Similarly, carrot, cabbage and local cauliflower are selling for Rs 80, Rs 40 and Rs 65 per kg, up from Rs 60, Rs 22 and Rs 38 per kg respectively recorded a fortnight ago.
White radish, long brinjal and round brinjal have also become dearer over the period to Rs 30, Rs 28 and Rs 30 per kg, up from Rs 16, Rs 16 and Rs 14 per kg respectively. Cowpea, Bottle gourd and smooth gourd have also become dearer to Rs 45, Rs 45 and Rs 32 per kg from Rs 40, Rs 18 and Rs 20 per kg respectively.
However, difference between wholesale and retail prices of vegetables have widened as retailers are taking advantage of short supply of vegetables during the Teej festival.
Veg prices go up as supply plummets