Data compiled by Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board (KFVMDB) showed that retail the price of Chinese garlic surged to Rs 80 per kg on Thursday, up from Rs 55 per kg on June 10. Similarly the retail price of Nepali garlic also climbed to Rs 65 per kg from Rs 55 per kg over a month. [break]
Wholesale price of Chinese and Nepali garlic went up to Rs 66 and Rs 38 from Rs 50 and Rs 34 per kg respectively over the period.
A total of 41.5 tons or a daily average 4.1 tons of garlic has entered the Kalimati market--- the largest vegetable market in the country, as compared to an average 8 tons during the same season last year.
Traders said the garlic price has shot up in Shangdong area of China- a key source - due to lower production during this season- which is also the peak harvest season. “Impact of the skyrocketing price of garlic in Shangdong, China has pushed up the garlic price in Nepal and this trend will continue for the next few months,” said Hem Shrestha, a trader in Chinese garlic at Kalimati wholesale market. Shrestha estimates that daily garlic consumption hovers around 10 tons. He said Nepali farmers shifted to other crops from garlic farming due to discouraging market prices last year.
Apart from China, Nepal´s major vegetable producing districts such as Dhading, Kathmandu, Kavre, Salyan and Dang are the major source of garlic for the Nepali market.
According to the Vegetables Development Directorate, production of garlic in the country rose to 30,115 tons during fiscal year 2006/07, up from 28,717 tons a year earlier.
However, prolonged drought across the country has badly impacted production thereby pushing down the supply volume of vegetables in the market. Arrival of vegetables in the market went down to 323.76 tons on Thursday as compared to 600 to 650 tons per day normally.
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