Fruit, vegetable prices stable despite fears of price rise

KATHMANDU, March 5: Prices of fruits and vegetable has remained largely under controls despite earlier fears of massve rise due to a devastating fire that gutted the Kalimati vegetable market on Saturday. The damage to the market, the largest supply point in the valley, has however, jeopardized normal operations.



"Suppliers and producers are selling their commodities outside Kalimati market which has largely controlled vegetable prices from sky-rocketing," said Ramesh Shrestha, wholesaler of Kalimati market. [break]



He further added Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Development Board (KFVMDB) had diverted goods to other market inside the valley to smoothen supply.



Normally around 600 tons of the vegetables was supplied to the Kalimati market each day from the neighboring districts. "On Monday morning however, Kalimati market received 150 tons of vegetables which was supplied to their regular customers from 6 to 10 in the morning" said Bindo Shrestha, accountant of KFVMDB.



Officials of KFVMDB feared the market would not resume normal operations for at least a week but insisted they would continue trading to stop possible price rise.



"Fire caused major damage and it will take some time for the market to fully recover as damaged building and infrastructure needs to be reconstruct," said Shrestha.

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