Trucks carrying vegetables begin to enter capital valley

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Oct.1: With the reopening of roads that were blocked at various places caused by floods and landslides, trucks carrying vegetables stuck on the roads have started entering Kathmandu Valley from Monday.

Vegetables weighing around 650 tonnes, including potatoes, onions and other green vegetables have entered the Kalimati wholesale market today, said Binaya Shrestha, information officer at the Kalimati Fruit and Vegetable Market Development Board.

"When the road was blocked due to heavy rains, many trucks carrying vegetables stopped on the road, and a small amount of vegetables entered Kalimati on Saturday and Sunday. However, as the road has been partially reopened, vegetables have started arriving in the Kalimati market since Monday morning,” he said.

As there was a shortage of vegetables in the market, it was difficult to get vegetables by Sunday evening in the market. The price of almost all green vegetables was up to three times higher than Friday's price, even if it was available anywhere.

Vegetables supplied from Chitwan, Makwanpur, Dolakha, Dhading, Kavrepalanchok, Nuwakot, Bara, Parsa, Sarlahi, Saptari, and Mahottari were affected due to continuous rain for three days since Thursday evening. Because of this, there was a shortage of vegetables in the valley and prices increased drastically.

Shrestha expressed his hope that the supply of vegetables will gradually increase and it will be normal within this week. He, however, said that the supply of vegetables might be reduced as the floods and landslides have damaged vegetable farms in many places across the country.

In today, out of 650 tonnes of vegetables, around 200 tonnes of green vegetables entered in the Kalimati market, he said, adding that the quantity of green vegetables is expected to increase from Tuesday.

Bhagawan Chandra Upreti, a wholesaler at Kalimati Fruit and Vegetable Market Development Board, said that price of vegetables suddenly soared in the market after the disruption in supply system caused by the rains.

In Kalimati market on Monday, wholesale price of tomatoes reached Rs. 110 per kg, cauliflower Rs. 145 per kg, cabbage Rs. 100 per kg, beans Rs. 110 per kg, brinjal Rs. 95 per kg and bitter gourd Rs. 110 per kg.

He said that the price of vegetables has started to decline from Monday afternoon with the arrival of vegetables in the market.

He, however, said the price of vegetables was still high as compared to Friday’s price. He said that the price of vegetables will decrease gradually with the increase in supply in the market.