Ensure Dashain supplies

It is good to note that the government has stepped up market inspection to check undue price hikes and black marketing during Nepal´s biggest festival Dashain, which is beginning in a week´s time. This step carries a big meaning as people are already on a shopping spree and all malls and retail stores are full of festival shoppers. As consumers throng to the markets in droves in the coming days, chances are high that unscrupulous traders will create artificial shortage, jack up prices under different pretexts and cheat consumers.



Along with monitoring the market, the government should pay attention to ensure supplies of those goods that are in high demand during the festival. Sadly, there are many examples to show that the government has not done enough homework on that front. In fact, there are already some worrisome developments. The recent two-week-long obstruction at Araniko Highway, the main overland trading route with China, by locals has already pushed up the prices of Chinese apparels by more than 25 percent. This has threatened to steal the colors out of the festival for low-income groups. Likewise, frequent but temporary obstructions at the Dhading segment of Prithvi Highway too has affected inflow of Indian and other goods imported via the sea route.



The other big area of concern is that fewer goats and sheep have entered the market so far. Nepal Food Corporation (NFC), the public sector entity, has announced that it will bring in 4,000 goats, but the number stands nowhere close to the rising demand. The demand for goats is primarily fulfilled by farmers and private traders who supply them from Tarai districts and India while mountain goats and sheep are brought from Tibet. However, because of the ‘unexplained´ road obstructions, the supply of these have taken a beating. Similarly, the market is already experiencing shortage of vegetables and their prices have doubled in the last one month. If concrete and immediate steps are not taken, chances are high that consumers might have to face shortage of both edible and other commodities.



Dashain, besides being a time for revelry for individuals, has a big meaning for the economy and business. Profitable business entities issue hefty bonuses and both government and private sector gives out additional money to their staff in the form of Dashain incentive as a result of which consumptions soar. This is good for an economy that has been suffering from subdued demand for a pretty long time. Hence, the government must see to it that unwanted elements do not obstruct supplies or manipulate prices so that Nepalis can shop till they drop without feeling cheated.

Related story

Dashain Food Recipes