According to Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board that manages Kalimati Wholesale Market, prices of pomegranates and grapes have increased to Rs 190 and Rs 85 per kg from Rs 160 and Rs 70 per kg respectively two weeks ago. Similarly, orange and water melon have also become dearer by Rs 10 and Rs 4 per kg to Rs 40 and Rs 22 per kg respectively. [break]
Traders said price of popular fruits have increased in the market due to rise in prices of fruits in India - one of the major suppliers of fruits to Nepal.
“Rising prices of popular fruits in India and declining supply in the market have pushed up fruit prices over the couple of weeks. However, the prices of pear and apples, which are imported from China, have remained almost unchanged,” said Dipendra Shrestha, treasurer of Nepal Fruits Wholesalers´ Association.
Price of some other popular fruits like apple, banana and papaya, however, have remained unchanged over the period. Apple and papaya are selling for Rs 65 and Rs 25 respectively, while banana has been priced Rs 35 per dozen.
Along with popular fruits, price of popular vegetables have also gone up in the market thanks to low supplies from major producing districts adjoining the Valley and some Tarai districts. Prices of tomatoes and small tomatoes have more than doubled over the period. Big tomatoes are selling for Rs 35 per kg, up from Rs 18 recorded two weeks ago, while small tomatoes is priced Rs 42 per kg from Rs 16.
However, prices of red potatoes and white potatoes have come down to Rs 13 and Rs 10 per kg from Rs 14 and Rs 11 respectively. Dry onions and carrots have laso become cheaper over the period. Dry onions are selling for Rs 20, down from Rs 23 recorded two weeks ago, while the price of carrots have come down to Rs 16 from Rs 18 per kg.
Prices of other vegetables like bitter gourd, pumpkin and mushroom also fell to Rs 48, Rs 18 and Rs 170 per kg from Rs 80, Rs 24 and Rs 200 recorded two weeks ago. However, price of cauliflower marginally went up to Rs 9 from Rs 7 per kg.
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