According to Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board, vegetable supplies at the market currently hover over 700 tons a day. Until a few weeks ago, daily supplies stood at just 550 tons a day.
Bharat Khatiwada, president Kalimati Vegetable Wholesalers´ Association, said wholesale prices of vegetables have come down as production of seasonal vegetables in neighboring district has increased. “As vegetables are highly perishable, farmers sell that at whatever prices they get,” Khatiwada explained the reason behind drop in vegetable prices.
Prices of seasonal vegetables like brinjal, cow pea, French bean, green soybean, bitter gourd, bottle gourd, pointed gourd, snake gourd, smooth gourd, Christophine and green onion have dropped by Rs 5 to Rs 40 per kg.
However, retailers charged as much as 40 percent higher than the price made public by board on Sunday, citing banda enforced by CPN-Maoist.
Long and round brinjal now cost Rs 18 and Rs 22 per kg, respectively, down by Rs 7 and Rs 8 per kg compared to last week´s prices. Similarly, prices of cow pea and green pea have fallen by Rs 25 and Rs 20 per kg, respectively, to Rs 25 and Rs 60 per kg. French bean and green soybean have seen their prices go down by Rs 15 and Rs 10 per kg to Rs 30 and Rs 70 per kg, respectively.
Likewise, prices of bitter gourd and bottle gourd have dropped by Rs 9 and Rs 15 per kg, respectively, to Rs 16 and Rs 20 per kg. Pointed ground and snake gourd are selling at Rs 35 and Rs 30 per kg, respectively, down by Rs 5 and Rs 6 per kg.
Christophine and smooth gourd has also become cheaper by Rs 5 and Rs 7 per kg to Rs 40 and Rs 25 per kg, respectively. Green onion, which was traded at Rs 50 per kg a week ago, is now available at Rs 45 per kg, while price of mushroom has come down to Rs 160 per kg from last week´s Rs 200 per kg.
The Kalimati market is currently receiving vegetables from Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Kathmandu, Dhading, Chitwan, Kavre, Parsa, Sarlahi and Makawanpur, among others.
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