Ending a few months of ban on export of pulses, the government recently lifted the ban on export of pulses despite the prices skyrocketing in the market. Traders are allowed to export a maximum of 15,000 tons of pulses.
“We were compelled to lift the ban on export of pulses due to immense pressure from the traders,” said Ganesh Dhakal, joint secretary at the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies. “Also, we couldn´t get relief as expected as pulse prices continued to shoot up despite the ban.”
According to Nepal Retailers´ Association, price of Mung Dal and Musuro Dal rose to Rs 150 and Rs 105 per kg in the last week of December from Rs 100 and Rs 90 per kg respectively in June. Price of Rahar Dal almost doubled in the period. Prices of Rahar Dal and Chana Dal increased to Rs 130 and Rs 72 per kg from Rs 72 and Rs 66 respectively recorded in June. Similarly, price of Mas Dal increased to Rs 110 per kg from Rs 96 recorded in June.
Prices of edible oil also increased during the period. Mustard and sunflower oil increased to Rs 100 per liter each from Rs 85 and Rs 76 respectively recorded in June. However, price of soybean oil declined to Rs 95 per liter from Rs 105 per liter over the period.
During the review period, sugar price saw an unprecedented price rise. Sugar is selling for Rs 80 per kg in the last week of December, up from Rs 53 per kg recorded in June. Similarly, price of Sona rice increased to Rs 30 from Rs 27 per kg and the price of Mansuli rice is hovering in the range of Rs 44 to Rs 48 per kg over the period. Prices of spices like cumin and coriander remained almost constant over the review period. Cumin and coriander are selling for Rs 250 and Rs 110 per kg respectively
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