In a glaring example of acute shortage of vegetables in the market, a crowd of traders had scrambled for cowpea imported from India before it could be unloaded from a truck here Wednesday.
Even small vendors are facing tough times due to low business as consumers don´t buy expensive vegetables.
Vegetable items per kg
- Bottle gourd - Rs 50
- Lady´s finger - Rs 60
- Bitter gourd - Rs 60
- Cowpea - Rs 70
- Cauliflower - Rs 50
- Carrot - Rs 70
- Red potatoes - Rs 30
“It is very difficult to sell the vegetables purchased at higher prices,” said Krishna Sharma, a green grocer, said. According to vendors, brinjal (egg plant) is the cheapest vegetable which is selling for Rs 24 per kg.
Cabbage is one of the vegetable items whose price has increased sharply in recent days. Cabbage price rose to Rs 35 per kg, up from 12 per kg in the same season last year.
Indian tomato, cauliflower and onion are hitting local market whereas other vegetable items are locally produced. In addition to supplies from local farmers, Kapurkot of Salyan, Lalbandi of Sarlahi, Palung of Makawanpur and Chitwan are also major suppliers of vegetables to Butwal.
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