Sujit Sthapit, a wholesaler of dry fruits and spices at Makhan said that prices of dry fruits such as cashew nut, walnuts, dates, almond and betel nut have seen significant price rise over the period. [break]
According to Sthapit, price of cashew nut has increased to Rs 980 per kg from Rs 950 per kg. Similarly, the prices of walnuts and almond have increased by Rs 40 per kg each and touched Rs 240 and Rs 600 per kg respectively.
The price of dates has gone up by Rs 10 per kg making it to Rs 90 per kg. Likewise betel nut is selling for as high as Rs 240 per kg up from Rs 1500 per kg recorded one month ago.
According to traders, dry fruits have become dearer in the domestic market mainly due to increasing import costs and irregular supplies.
“The price of dry fruits has increased in the beginning of festive seasons with the increase in demand and less supply from the international market,” said Prayag Tuladhar of Bhawani Stores. Tuladhar further added that price has increased in the Nepali market as result price increase in the international market.
“Betel nuts are mostly imported from India and China but due to increase in custom duty traders have not imported enough to fulfill the increased demand,” said Sthapit.
Most of the popular dry fruits are imported from India, China, Pakistan, Afganistan, Brazil, Iran and Guatemala and California of United States due to limited domestic production.
Traders, however, said that the demand for dry fruits has not come down despite the price rise. “The demand for dry fruits is growing because dry fruits are one of the important commodities during festivals,” said Tuladhar.
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