Vegetable prices soaring in Kathmandu Valley

By Laxman Kafle,Kathmandu, Sept. 10: The price of green vegetables has increased sharply in the Kathmandu Valley over the last couple of weeks due to a reduction in their supply.

 According to the price index of the Kalimati Fruit and Vegetable Market Development Board, the price of vegetables has increased by 50 per cent to 100 per cent in the last one month.

 The wholesale price of cabbage, cauliflower, beans, capsicum, bitter gourd and okra has gone up noticeably.

 The supply of vegetables dropped by around by 25-30 per cent in last one month due to lack of production across the country which led to an increase in their prices, said Bhagawan Chandra Upreti, wholesaler of the Kalimati Fruit and Vegetable Market Development Board (KFVMDB).

 “Around 450 tonnes of vegetables, including potatoes and onions, are entering Kalimati market daily at present, while it was above 600 tonnes one month ago,” he said.  The production of local vegetables has decreased due to excessive rainfall, he said, adding that the supply of local vegetables will remain low for a month, he said.

 In wholesale market, the price of cabbage reached Rs. 80 per kg, yardlong bean Rs. 70 per kg, beans Rs. 80 per kg, cauliflower local Rs. 100, bitter gourd at Rs. 90, radish Rs. 100 and okra Rs. 60 per kilogram.  One month ago, the price of cabbage was only Rs. 20 per kg, yardlong bean Rs. 50 per kg, beans Rs. 40 per kg, cauliflower Rs. 70 per kg, bitter gourd Rs. 40 per kg, radish Rs. 40 per kg and okra Rs. 40 per kg.

 The price of capsicum has reached Rs. 120 per kg from Rs. 80 in a month. Similarly, the price of bottle gourd rose to Rs. 50 per kg, sponge gourd Rs. 40 per kg and brinjal Rs. 60 per kg.

 A kg of cucumber was traded at Rs. 90 in the Kalimati market Friday.

 Tomato price drops

 However, the price of tomatoes has dropped by half within a month due to an increase in its supply, Upreti said.

 The price of tomatoes has dropped to Rs. 50 per kg while it was Rs. 105 per kg a month ago in Kalimati market, Upreti said.  The improvement in the supply of tomatoes has contributed to reduction in its price over the month.

The price of tomatoes had reached Rs. 105 a month ago. In the month of June, tomatoes became wasted in the farmers’ fields after not being sold in the market.

Even though the price of tomatoes dropped significantly in the wholesale market, the consumers have still been compelled to purchase them at Rs. 100 per kg in the retail market

Similarly, the price of squash and pumpkin has dropped in the review period. The price of squash has dropped to Rs. 30 per kg from Rs. 70 and pumpkin to Rs. 60 per kg from Rs. 80 in a month.

 At present, vegetables from surrounding districts including Kavrepalanchowk, Dhading, Manwanpur are entering in large amounts compared to other areas. 

 Trader Upreti said that the price of onion has increased significantly because of 40 per cent tax on export of onion by the Indian government.

The Indian government imposed a 40 per cent tax on onion exports to control its price in the market discouraging export so the price of onions in the Nepali market has increased.

The price of onion reached Rs. 73 per kg in the wholesale market from Rs. 53 due to the imposition of tax on export of onion by India.

 More expensive at retail

 Although the farmers have benefited from the rise in the price of vegetables, consumers have been struggling to manage the cost of vegetables for daily consumption. 

Consumers have been forced to buy vegetables at double the price in retail shops than wholesale price, said Upreti.

 He said consumers would not consume vegetables in line with the wholesale price until the government started monitoring the retail market effectively.

 “We have to pay a high price for vegetables in the retail market compared to the wholesale market. It is natural to pay high prices compared to wholesale market prices due to the profit margin of retailers. But the retailers are selling vegetables at double the price,” said consumer Sarita Timalsina of Pepsicola, Kathmandu.  She said that vegetable consumers have been cheated while buying daily kitchen items from the retailers due to absence of government presence in market monitoring.

“I bought half a kilo of pumpkin at Rs. 50, tomatoes at Rs. 90 per kg and cucumber at Rs. 110 per kilogram on Friday,” she said, “Concerned bodies should monitor the market effectively to provide relief to the consumers to consume vegetables in line with the wholesale price,” she said.  The price of vegetables is far different between the retailers, how to know the actual price of vegetables, she asked.

 Timilsina said, “Vegetables worth Rs. 500 are not enough for a family of four members for a day. Due to the increase in the prices of all vegetables in the market, the kitchens of Kathmandu residents have become more expensive. It is difficult to meet the expenses with limited income.”