POKHARA, Aug 6: In mid-June, farmers demonstrated by throwing tomatoes on the streets of Kathmandu stating that they did not get a fair price. At that time, farmers had thrown tomatoes on the streets in the capital mentioning that their tomatoes were not sold even at Rs 10 per kg. While in the capital, tomatoes were being thrown on the streets. In Pokhara at that time, the retail price of tomatoes was Rs 70 per kg.
While the retail price of tomatoes fluctuates, even two weeks ago, the retail price of tomatoes in Pokhara was around one Rs 100 per kg. However, now suddenly the price of tomatoes has skyrocketed. In the market, the retail price of tomatoes has risen up to Rs 180 per kg. According to professionals, even a week ago, the price of tomatoes in Pokhara was around Rs 110 per kg.
Kamal Paudel, Chairman of Pokhara Wholesale Vegetable Market Management Committee, said, “Suddenly the price has skyrocketed. Within a week, the price of tomatoes has increased to Rs 180 per kg. This price is likely to increase for a few more days.” According to him, the production of tomatoes in India has decreased this time. After the decline in production, some Nepali farmers have exported tomatoes to India in the hope of getting a higher price. Because of that, the price has increased due to a shortage of tomatoes in the country.
“At this time in India, the price of tomatoes is very high. There has been no production of the tomatoes due to floods,” he said, “We have learnt that the price of tomatoes produced in Nepal has increased due to the shortage of tomatoes here after the farmers started exporting it to India. There is a possibility that the price will increase further unless local production of tomatoes in the market is added.”
Tomatoes cost Rs 180 a kg in Bajhang
According to Chairman Paudel, all the tomatoes distributed in the market of Pokhara are produced in the areas around Kathmandu. He said that the local production of tomatoes is very low. According to him, the wholesale price of tomatoes in Pokhara is around Rs 160 per kg. This price was around Rs 110 till a week ago.
According to Rupa Dahal, manager of Pokhara Wholesale Vegetable Market, this is the highest price of tomatoes in Pokhara so far. “In past days, I hardly remember that the price of tomatoes has increased around Rs 180 per kg which is very high,” Dahal said, “Only the price of tomatoes has increased at this time. The prices of other vegetables have not increased much.” She said that the price increase of tomatoes between Rs 60 to Rs 70 per kg in a week is very high.”
According to Dahal, now the price of one crate of tomatoes has reached up to Rs 3,500. This means that the wholesale price of one kg of tomatoes is around Rs 155. She said that when the retailers add profit and sell the vegetable, the consumer has to pay up to Rs 180 per kg. “Until a week ago, the price of a crate of tomatoes was around Rs 2,500. At that time, the wholesale price was around Rs 110 per kg. Consumers were able to buy it at around Rs 120 per kg when retailers added profit. However, now the consumers have to purchase it at Rs 180 per kg,” she said. According to her, retailers add a maximum profit of 20 percent to the price they pay to the wholesalers.
According to her, the supply of tomatoes in Pokhara has also decreased in the last week. At this time, Dahal said that only around 1000 crates of tomatoes are brought to Pokhara per day. When the conditions were normal, around 2,000 crates of tomatoes used to be supplied to Pokhara a day.
“The supply has almost halved. Because of that, the price has also increased,” said Dahal, “The supply is lower than the demand. That is why the price has increased. It is expected that this price will increase for a few more days. Dahal also said that some farmers exported the tomatoes produced in Nepal to India at a time when the domestic supply was not enough.”
It has been heard that the production of tomatoes in India has decreased and the price has increased, and exports have been made from Nepal. That is why we have received information that there is a shortage of tomatoes. However, it is not sure whether it is real or not,” she said, “The market rumor says that the price of tomatoes skyrocketed because it is exported to India which has led to scarcity to meet the local demand.” She also said that all the tomatoes supplied to Pokhara are produced in areas around Kathmandu.
She said that local production is expected to increase after two weeks. She added that the prices will start decreasing as the local production increases. According to Dahal, now only four to five crates of local tomatoes are supplied to Pokhara in a week. This shows how low the condition of local production is. That is why there is a shortage of tomatoes,” she said.
