Vegetable prices soar in Ilam

By Our Correspondent,Ilam, Aug.13: Ilam itself is a vegetable producing district. Vegetables produced in Ilam are supplied to Jhapa market on a daily basis. Vegetables from Ilam reach Charali, Birtamod, Damak of Jhapa. However, the price of vegetables in Ilam has skyrocketed.

Now, the price of a kilogram of tomato has reached at Rs. 80, onion Rs. 100, okra Rs. 120 per kg, brinjal Rs. 120 and cabbage Rs. 60. 

Similarly, Akbare chilli is being sold at Rs. 400 per kg.

It has been found that the prices of vegetables have increased even in the weekly market of Ilam headquarters. 

Laxmi Khatri, a trader who has been trading vegetables in the headquarters, said that the price of onion and potatoes had increased further in the market from today. 

"On Sunday, a kg of tomatoes was sold at Rs. 70-80. I sold tomatoes at Rs. 100 per kg on Monday," Khatri said, "the price of onion was Rs. 120 per kg on Saturday, but it has decreased to Rs. 100 in the past few days, and there is a possibility that onions will be expensive from today."

Dipa Pokharel, a local of Ilam, who came to Ilam market to sell Akbare produced by herself, said that she sold Akbare at a rate of Rs. 400 per kg. 

"The price of Akbare is good at the beginning of this year. When selling, the price is good, but other vegetables are very expensive compared to usual times."

Traders said that the price had increased because the tomato production season is coming to an end. 

Many farmers in the district have cultivated vegetables inside tunnels as seasonal vegetables and because the production is less in rainy season than in the winter, vegetables are more expensive, they said.

After the increase in the price of vegetables, the market area of the district, including the headquarters and the students living away from to study in schools and colleges are facing problems. 

"It is too far to bring vegetables from home, it is expensive to buy and eat here. It is very difficult to pay rent and also buy vegetables," Sabitra Paudal, a student of Ilam who came from Taplejung said. "Students are in trouble after the increase in the price of vegetables."

This is also the main season of chayote and cucumbers produced in Ilam. 

In the market, cucumber costs from Rs. 60 to 100 per piece. Similarly, price of chayote is Rs. 20 per kg in the market.

There is no statistics about how many and what quantities of vegetables are produced in Ilam and supplied daily from here.