Money
Supply glut drops veggie prices in Kathmandu
Vegetable prices in the Kathmandu Valley have dropped up to 28 percent due to increased supply in the market. Tomato small, potato red and white, onion, cabbage, broccoli, green pea, barela and green leafy items have become cheaper by up to 28 percent in the past two weeks.Krishana Prasain
Vegetable prices in the Kathmandu Valley have dropped up to 28 percent due to increased supply in the market. Tomato small, potato red and white, onion, cabbage, broccoli, green pea, barela and green leafy items have become cheaper by up to 28 percent in the past two weeks.
Traders attributed the price fall to an increase in supply of seasonal vegetables in major wholesale markets in the Kathmandu Valley. “We are receiving plenty of supplies from farmers across the country and consumption has been stable due to the cold weather,” said Binay Shrestha, deputy general manager at Kalimati Fruits and Vegetable Market Development Board Committee. The prices of vegetable are expected to fall further, he said.
The average retail price of potato red which was Rs75 per kg, fell by 16.33 percent and now costs Rs65 per kg.
Similarly, potato white price has decreased by 15.38 percent within two weeks and now costs Rs55 per kg.
According to Shrestha, sufficient local production and supply of potato is expected to lower prices further. Similarly, the price competitiveness between Nepali and Indian potato also dropped the price of potato in the market as Indian potato is cheaper, he said.
Anju Basnet, a vegetable buyer at Kalimati Fruits and Vegetable Market said that locally grown potatoes have a good taste and cooks fast. Potato is being supplied from Kavre, Sakhu, Dhading and Mude.
Likewise, tomato small price has decreased by 22.22 percent and cost Rs35 per kg.
The price of onion has also decreased by 18.18 percent and is priced at Rs45 per kg.
Cabbage price has sharply decreased by 28.57 per kg and is priced at Rs35 per kg. Broccoli price has also fallen by 13.33 percent and now costs Rs65 per kg.
Similarly, the price of green pea now costs Rs115 per kg, a decline of 8 percent. The price of barela has also fallen by 15.38 percent and hit Rs55 per kg. The prices of green leafy vegetables have also decreased by 15.38 percent and now costs Rs55.
Meanwhile, the retail price of vegetables like tomato small, cauliflower local, string beans, bottle gourd, ladies finger and chayote have remained constant.
Tomato small is priced at Rs45 per kg while cauliflower local cost Rs35 per kg. The price of string beans remained unchanged at Rs65 per kg, bottle gourd at Rs45 per kg, ladies finger Rs95 per kg and chayote at Rs35 per kg.
On the other hand, prices of egg plant, black eye beans, bitter gourd, pointed gourd and mushroom have increased by up to 28 percent. Egg plant in now dearer by 28.57 percent and was selling for Rs45 per kg on Friday.
The price of black eye beans has also increased by 22.22 percent and is priced at Rs55 per kg. Bitter gourd price has swelled by 26.67 percent and is priced at Rs95 per kg.
Similarly, the prices of pointed gourd and mushroom have increased 15.38 and 20.39 percent, and costs Rs75 and Rs175 per kg respectively.