Volume of vegetables coming into the Kalimati market, the largest vegetable market in the country, has not increased as expected as farmers are selling their produce to markets in Pokhara and Tarai districts, where vegetable production has been hit due to high temperature in the past couple of weeks. [break]
“Farmers and traders are supplying huge volume of vegetables to Pokhara, Biratnagar, Butwal and other cities as they are getting attractive prices of their produces as compared to the capital. This is the reason why supplies haven´t increased as expected this season,” Bharat Khatiwada, president of Vegetable Wholesalers´ Association, told myrepublica.com on Wednesday.
Farmers is major source districts like Kavre, Dhading, Makawanpur and Nuwakot are selling popular vegetables like capsicum, cow peas and smooth gourd and to cities outside the capital.
“About 700 tons of vegetables are entering the capital city every day from surrounding districts. The volume would have been far higher had the farmers not sold vegetables to cities outside the Valley. This would have also brought down the prices,” Khatiwada said.
Prices of big tomatoes, cabbage and local cauliflower have gone up to Rs 28, Rs 7 and Rs 34 per kg from Rs 24, Rs 6 and Rs 32 per kg recorded two weeks ago. Similarly prices of squash, cucumber and broccoli have also risen from Rs 12, Rs 25 and Rs 30 per kg to Rs 18, Rs 28 and Rs 40 per kg respectively over the period.
However, prices of red potatoes, white potatoes and dry onions have reduced to Rs 15, Rs 16 and Rs 20 per kg from Rs 24, Rs 17 and Rs 17 per kg respectively. Prices of cow pea, mushroom and asparagus have also dropped to Rs 16, Rs 350 and Rs 100 per kg from Rs 18, Rs 450 and Rs 150 per kg respectively.
Prices of Chinese and Nepali garlic have dropped to Rs 85 and Rs 140 per kg from Rs 95 and Rs 150 per kg respectively recorded two weeks ago.
Prices of fruits also saw some changes in the market over the period. Apple, water melon and pomegranate are selling for Rs 100, Rs 14 and Rs 200 per kg, up from Rs 90, Rs 12 and Rs 190 per kg respectively. However, prices of banana and grapes dropped to Rs 50 per dozen and Rs 145 per kg from Rs 70 per dozen and Rs 150 per kg respectively.
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