According to Binaya Shrestha, senior planning officer at Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board (KFVMDB), wholesale prices of vegetable have gone up mainly because of dry season that has affected production. [break]
“Normally, we used to receive around 600 tons of vegetables every day. These days we are receiving just about 450-500 tons,” added Shrestha.
Prices generally increase during summer as vegetables perish faster due to high temperature. “But low supplies is the main reason behind price rise this year,” said Shrestha.
Popular vegetables like small tomato, cabbage, local cauliflower, white radish, long brinjal, cow pea, green peas, French bean, bitter gourd, pointed gourd, squash and lady´s finger among others have seen price rise. Tomato, which was selling at Rs 25 per kg a week ago, now costs Rs 35 per kg. Prices of cabbage and bitter gourd have increased by Rs 15 per kg each to Rs 40 per kg and 35 per kg respectively. Green peas are selling at Rs 80 per kg, up from last week´s Rs 60 per kg.
Similarly, price of local cauliflower has climbed to Rs 55 per kg from last week´s Rs 50 per kg, long brinjal is selling at Rs 32 per kg and price of cow pea has climbed from Rs 45 per kg to Rs 55 per kg.
French beans are selling at Rs 60 per kg up from last week´s Rs 50 per kg, while pointed guard, squash and lady´s finger are selling at higher price of Rs 40 per kg, Rs 36 per kg and Rs 45 per kg, respectively.
Prices of potato and onion, however, have remained unchanged. Traders say prices of these vegetables will also increase after farmers complete their vegetables harvest and start paddy plantation.
Geeta Prasad, a wholesaler at Kalimati market, said prices fluctuate during summer as traders do not keep vegetables in stock as they are highly perishable. “This is one of the reasons behind price rise,” added Prasad.
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