Wholesale prices of majority of the fruits are declining as supply from India and many districts in the country has gone up.
"Currently, the fruits wholesale market at Kuleswor is receiving an average of around 20 to 25 trucks of fruits per day from India and various districts in the country, as against 10 to 12 trucks a day around a month ago. This increment in supply has pushed the prices down," said Dipendra Shrestha, treasurer of the Nepal Fruits Wholesalers Association (NFWA). (A truck carries around 10 to 15 tons of fruits.)
Currently, the wholesale market is flooded with mangoes and litchis as this is the peak harvesting season of these fruits.
"In the previous years, demand for mangoes and litchis used to grow at this time of the year, due to which prices used to go up. But demand for these fruits is low this year because of the wet weather, which raises chances of fruits being attacked by pests and insects. As a result, prices of these fruits have fallen," said Shrestha. "Besides, news reports about rampant use of chemicals to ripen fruits also lowered demand of fruits this season."
When the first lot of mangoes arrived in the market for this season two months ago, their prices hovered at Rs 100 to 120 per kg. But prices started coming down with the advent of monsoon. Last month, mangoes were priced Rs 50 per kg, according to NWFA data, but on Saturday they were available for Rs 35 to Rs 40 per kg depending on their variety.
Likewise, litchis were priced at Rs 60 to Rs 100 per kg when they first hit the market for the season last month. But now they are available for as low as Rs 30 per kg.
"Prices of litchis have come down because many are now infested with pests and insects due to wet season," said Shrestha.
Similarly, prices of sugarcane have also dropped from Rs 30 per stick a month ago to Rs 20 per stick recently. Bananas, which were available for Rs 60 per dozen, a month ago are now priced at Rs 40 per dozen.
Prices of papaya and pineapple have, however, remained unchanged. Papayas are currently available for Rs 30 to Rs 35 per kg, while pineapples cost Rs 40 to Rs 65 per piece depending on size.
As prices of most of the fruits are coming down, watermelons, on the other hand, are becoming expensive. Prices of watermelon have recently gone up to Rs 20 to Rs 22 per kg from Rs 8 per kg a month ago.
Shrestha said watermelons have become dearer because their harvesting season is almost over, which has lowered their supply.
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