On Wednesday, Kathmandu received 60 tons of fruits, while on Tuesday around 40 tons of fruits had entered the Valley. [break]"But continuous rain since Monday night has lowered the demand, which has in turn brought down prices," Dipendra Shrestha, treasurer of Nepal Fruit Wholesale Association (NFWA).
Rates issued by the Fruits Wholesale Market shows that the price of fruits such as banana, pomegranate, sweet orange, papaya, and mango have gone down compared to the earlier day. “The prices of fruits has decreased by Rs 5 to Rs 20 per kg in the wholesale market,” said Shrestha.
The price of mango has decreased by Rs 15 to and is now available for Rs 45 per kg now. Likewise, banana has become cheaper by Rs 4 per dozen and is being sold at Rs 30 per dozen in the wholesale market. Price of sweet orange too has dropped by Rs 5 and is supplied to retailers at Rs 60 per kg. Papaya and apple are available at Rs 50 per kg and Rs 80 respectively.
Traders said that price of litchi, however, has remained constant. On Wednesday, it was sold at Rs 80 per kg. Likewise price of pomegranate has also remained constant at Rs 150 per kg in the wholesale market.
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 Wednesday were found charging some Rs 20 higher over the wholesale rate.
“After many days, now there is a good supply of fruits but the demand of fruits has gone down because in the rainy season consumption of fruits decreases,” Shrestha told Republica.
However, he cautioned the prices might go up in the weeks ahead as increase in prices of petroleum products in India might lead to the rise in the prices of fruits. As local production falls short, Nepal largely fulfills its fruits demand through imports from India and China.
On an average, the fruits 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.
Himesh Magar, fruit and juice seller of Fruits Shop at Anamnagar, said fruits have become cheaper as the supply is adequate.
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