By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, July 12: Following the relaxation of lockdown, the supply of green vegetables has improved at the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market.
Around 600 tonnes of vegetables are entering the Kalimati Market at present while the supply had dropped below 300 tonnes a month ago, said Binaya Shrestha, information officer of Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board.
He, however, said that the heavy rainfall over the last few days had affected the supply of vegetables over the days as continuous rainfall damaged vegetables at the farms.
According to him, the demand for vegetables could not improve in the Valley as a large number of people are still at their hometown due to the lockdown caused by COVID-19.
The market alone covers around 60 to 70 per cent of the demand of the Kathmandu Valley.
“The supply of vegetables in Kathmandu Valley is enough to meet the demand. Most of green vegetables are entering the Valley from various parts of the country including Kavrepalanchowk, Dhading, Makwanpur, Sindhuli and Terai regions,” he said.
Only around 20 per cent vegetables such as lemon, okra, onion and potatoes are being imported from India, he said.
The import of vegetables from India had declined at present compared to a month ago as the government eased transportation facilities to supply vegetables to the market.
“The flow of consumers at the Kalimati market has remained low even though market has resumed as normal because the consumers have remained fearful of COVID-19 in Kathmandu and the government has enforced odd and even system for the operation of vehicles inside the Valley,” he said.
The Kalimati market has come in normal operation from a month ago following the relaxation of lockdown.
Bhagawan Chandra Upreti, a wholesaler of Kalimati market, said that the price of vegetables has also increased in the market at present compared to the price a month ago.
The wholesale price of tomatoes stands at Rs. 15 per kilogram, potatoes at Rs. 40, onion at Rs. 30 per kilogram, cabbage at Rs. 30 per kilogram and cauliflower at Rs. 50 per kilogram.
The price of local vegetables such as tomatoes, cabbage, beans, bottle gourd was below Rs. 10 per kilogram at the Kalimati market.
The capsicum become expensive in the market as the wholesale price of capsicum reached Rs. 125 per kilogram, he said.
He said that the price of all green vegetables would increase further in the days to come as the rains have damaged production and farmers are planting rice by destroying the vegetables farms.
He, however, said that the price of vegetables has doubled in the retail market compared to the wholesale market.
He hoped that the farmers were getting comparatively reasonable price than the price of their vegetables a month ago when their produce decayed in the fields due to lack of transportation facility.