Rates issued by the Fruits Wholesale Market show, fruits such as banana, pomegranate, sweet orange, papaya, and water melon have become cheaper compared to last week. [break]“The price of pomegranate decreased by Rs 50 to Rs 200 per kg now,” said Binod Pandey, general secretary of Nepal Fruit Wholesale Association (NFWA).
Likewise, banana became cheaper by Rs 5 per dozen compared to a week ago, and is now selling at Rs 40 per dozen in the wholesale market. Price of sweet orange too dropped by Rs 10 and is supplied to retailers at Rs 60 per kg.
Papaya is available at Rs 40 per kg, down from Rs 50 per kg of last week. Water melon is priced at Rs 16 per kg. Last week, it traded at Rs 20 per kg during banda.
Wholesalers informed that the prices of mango and apple, however, have remained unchanged over the past one week. On Tuesday, apple and mango were being sold in the wholesale market at Rs 80 per kg and Rs 75 per kg respectively - same as during the banda period last week.
Importers also introduced Litchi for the first time this seaon. On Tuesday, it sold at Rs 70 per kg.
Despite significant drop in wholesale rates, consumers in different parts of the Kathmandu Valley did not enjoy similar drop in retail rates. According to NFWA officials, the retailers on Tuesday were found charging some Rs 20 higher over the wholesale rate, forcing consumers to pay much higher than what they should have been charged for the supply.
“After banda, now there is good supply of fruits. Hence, the prices have gone down,” said Pandey.
However, he cautioned the prices might increase in weeks due to rise of prices in India. As local productions falls short, Nepal largely fulfills its fruits demand by importing them from India and China.
On an average, the wholesale market in Balkhu is receiving 15 vehicles of fruits every day. The market fulfills 90 percent of the demand for fruits in the Valley.
Urmila Poudel, fruit and juice seller at Ghattekulo said price of fruits have decreased as they are receiving fresh and adequate supply. “With the price drop, sales of fresh fruits have increased as well,” she added.
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