The teams will study exact market situation in source districts -- Nuwakot, Dhading and Lalitpur districts -- and existing market chains to find prices difference in source districts and markets in the capital.[break]
Prabhakar Pathak, spokesperson at the MoAD, told Republica that the teams will conduct study in those key supplier districts to find difference between farm gate prices and retail prices in the capital.
“The teams, which comprise three officials each, have been tasked with finding value addition in vegetables through the entire market chain and recommend measures to control prices,” Pathak told Republica. He said the teams, which started works from Monday, will submit report by September 3.
Due to their proximity to the capital, these three districts play a key role in stabilizing vegetables prices during transport strikes and other disruptions in vehicular movement when agro-products from other source districts, mainly from Tarai, can not reach the capital city.
Amid rising complaints from general public about huge difference between retail and wholesale prices of vegetables and fruits in Kalimati wholesale market, Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board recently approved the Market Monitoring Guidelines that envisages effective monitoring of prices and quality of agro-produces and stalls in the market.
Pathak said the guideline makes identity cards mandatory for sellers and helpers in all stalls in the market. Similarly, it bars traders from selling vegetables in walking tracks inside the market.
The guideline also seeks traders to display price of fruits and vegetables and board officials to check difference between farm gate prices and retail prices in the market.
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