Vegetable prices soar ahead of festive season

By Rabindra Upreti,Bardibas, Sept. 22: As the major festivals, Dashain and Tihar, approach, green vegetable prices have skyrocketed in the Bardibas market, forcing consumers to pay almost double for daily essentials. 

Retailers attribute the hike to reduced supply and the seasonal surge in demand of vegetables during the festive season. 

Mahesh Sah, a contractor at the Bardibas vegetable market, informed that vegetable prices have been rising steadily since Teej, with costs climbing by 50 to 100 per cent since the beginning of September.

Currently, pointed gourd is being sold at Rs. 100 per kilo. Earlier, it was sold at Rs. 30 per kilo. Similarly, tomatoes and local cauliflower are being sold at Rs. 150 per kilo. Likewise, hilly potatoes are sold at Rs. 70, bitter gourd at Rs. 80, sponge gourd at Rs. 50, ridge gourd at Rs. 40, Pidalu (type of yam) at Rs. 60 and green pumpkin at Rs. 40 per kilo. 

Local Oal (type of yam) now costs Rs. 150 per kilo, while brinjal is selling at Rs. 100.

Similarly, local radish with leaves, is selling at Rs. 30 a bunch (equivalent to Rs. 120 per kilo). Coriander has also become nearly unaffordable for many households.

Market analysts note that vegetable production in the Tarai has begun to decline by mid-September, while those produced in hilly regions have not reached the market fully.

They further informed that heavy rainfall in northern areas has damaged crops and disrupted supply chains, further driving up prices.

Consumers complain that the steep rise in daily essentials has added extra financial burden during the festive season.  

“We are paying nearly double for daily items,” said Narayan Ghimire, a hotel operator bargaining for vegetables at the Bardibas morning market. “This unexpected price hike has even affected our business.”

Meanwhile, consumer rights groups and administrative authorities have yet to prioritise market monitoring, leaving price regulation ineffective.

Mahottari’s Gaushala, Matihani, Dhamoura, and Bhangaha are considered pocket areas for commercial vegetable farming, with around 22,680 hectares under cultivation, according to the Agriculture Knowledge Centre.  However, as this is the sowing season for winter vegetables, supply has plunged.

The Plant Quarantine Office at Malibara, Jaleshwar Customs, confirmed that Indian imports also play a vital role in meeting local demand. 

In the fiscal year 2024/25, Nepal imported 2,683 metric tonnes of 18 varieties of vegetables worth Rs. 643.9 million from India.

Quarantine Chief Kishor Yadav stated that shortages in Indian border markets due to monsoon rains have directly impacted Nepali markets.