Retailers said prices of food commodities have increased because of short supplies and price hike in source countries itself. "Rise in prices of food commodities in India in recent months is one of the reasons behind increment in food prices in Nepal," Hari Singh, proprietor of Singh Store in Indra Chowk said. [break]
Basmati rice, which was selling for an average of Rs 80 per kg a month and half ago, is now selling for Rs 100 per kg. Similarly, wheat flour that was priced at Rs 36 per kg before a month is now selling at Rs 40 per kg.
Similarly, prices of red lentil (musuro) and split pigeon pea (rahar) have increased by Rs 10 per kg each to Rs 120 and Rs 130 per kg respectively. However, prices of black lentil (mas) and green gram (mung) have remained unchanged at Rs 110 per kg and Rs 130 per kg, respectively.
Price of soybean has increased by more than 15 percent compared to prices recorded two months ago. While white soybean has become dearer by Rs 20 per kg to Rs 100 per kg, black soybean is selling at Rs 100 per kg, up from Rs 85 per kg recorded two months ago.
Meanwhile, prices of edible oil, sesame seed, beaten rice, sugar and peas have remained unchanged.
As the major festive season is approaching, retailers fear fluctuating food prices will affect their business. Chandra Kiran Shrestha, a retailer at Chabahil, says, “Food prices might grow at a higher rate during the festive season.”
Raj Kumar Shrestha, general secretary of Nepal Retailers Association, said prices of food commodities have increased only marginally in some stores. “Prices of some food items have gone up at some retailers due to price hike in India itself,” he added. “Retailers, who have sufficient stock of food commodities, have kept the price unchanged, while the others have slightly raised the prices.”
According to Shrestha, Nepal source more than 75 percent of daily consumable commodities from India.
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