According to Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board, which manages the Kalimati wholesale market, total vegetable arrivals have increased to over 425 tons per day from around 350 tons per day recorded about a couple of weeks ago.
According to vendors, supply of major vegetable items such as cauliflower, cabbage and tomato from districts adjoining the Kathmandu valley has increased, pushing down the prices in the market“ "Production of vegetables in major producing districts has gone up, prompting the prices to go down in the market. This trend will continue for a few more week”," said Geeta Prasad Acharya, a wholesaler at the Kalimati market“ "Prices of some vegetables have remained the same for the last few day”."
According to the board, the prices of big tomato and small tomato have dropped to Rs 38 and Rs 50 per kg respectively from Rs 60 each a week ago. Similarly, prices of cabbage, cauliflower and bitter gourd have also plunged to Rs 30, Rs 45 and Rs 40 per kg from Rs 35, Rs 50 and Rs 45 per kg respectively. However, prices of onion, Chinese garlic, Nepali garlic, red potato and white potato didn´t change over the week.
The prices of popular fruits, which had sharply soared during festive occasions, have gradually started to cool down with the increase in supplies. Thanks to huge imports from China, the price of apple has significantly reduced to Rs 100-Rs 120 per kg from around Rs 300 per kg recorded last month, the traders said.“
"At least 400 quintals of Chinese apples enter the capital every day. The figure is six-fold higher than the quantity recorded two weeks ago," Deependra Shrestha, treasurer of Nepal Fruits Wholesalers´ Association, told myrepublica.com.
"More than 80 percent of total apples sold in Nepali markets are imported from China. Indian and local apples have limited market share in Nepal because they can´t compete with cheap Chinese apples," Shrestha added.
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