Vegetable price skyrockets, by as much as 300 percent

Published On: October 7, 2020 12:20 PM NPT By: Dilip Paudel

KATHMANDU, Oct 7: The price of vegetables has skyrocketed with as much as 300 percent in a month.

Skyrocketing prices have left the consumers deeply worried as this is happening at a time when many are losing jobs and sources of income due to the pandemic. According to Kalimati Fruits and Vegetable Market Development Board (KFVMDB), the price of onion was Rs 51 per kg last month which has jumped to Rs 115 per kg and the price of potato has reached Rs 105 per kg. Cauliflower is being traded for Rs 115 per kg, spinach and green beans at Rs 110, spring onion Rs 155, turnip Rs 100, string beans Rs 110 and okra Rs 105 per kg.

Similarly, the price of coriander has reached Rs 225, garlic Rs 255 and green chilly Rs 115 per kg. The price of coriander, garlic and green chilly has increased by Rs 55 percent, 109 percent and 104 percent respectively.

Bitter gourd’s price jumped to Rs 85 per kg from Rs 33, a rise of 58 percent. Bottle gourd is priced at Rs 67 and carrots Rs 98, according to the KFVMDB. Khom Prasad Ghimire, president of the Federation of Fruits and Vegetable Entrepreneurs said vegetable supply has decreased due to low production. “Vegetables from Tarai have not been supplied to Kathmandu and the price has skyrocketed as the local production around Kathmandu valley is still insufficient,” he said, adding, “About 800 tons of vegetables used to be supplied to Kathmandu which has now gone down to 500 tons a day.”

Most vegetables are imported from India and the price hike in India, Bangladesh and Bhutan has contributed to price rise in Nepal. Binay Shrestha, spokesperson at the Board said the price is unlikely to go down until the new production is supplied into the valley.

Consumer rights activist Madhav Timalsina said farmers and consumers are suffering because of middlemen. “The government body has not been able to intercept the market,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection stated that it has become active to control black marketing and practices by middlemen. “We are monitoring daily consumption goods including vegetables in the market,” said Rabindra Acharya, spokesperson at the department.