KATHMANDU, Aug 2: Price of fresh vegetables in Kathmandu have started coming down in the wholesale market, thanks to improved supplies from different parts of the country.
Statistics of Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board (KFVMDB) shows that price of vegetables like tomato, potato, onion, cabbage, cauliflower, French bean, green soybean and bitter gourd, among others, has fallen over the past couple of weeks.
“Though prices are falling, they are yet to become stable due to irregular supply owing to road obstructions resulting from monsoon rains. One day supply increases, and on the other it falls due to heavy rainfall and road obstruction,” Ramesh Dangol, planning officer of the board, told Republica.
“Despite irregular supply, prices have fallen compared to some weeks ago.”
Dangol, however, said that price reduction is of temporary nature and that prices would start going up very soon. “Farmers are reluctant to harvest vegetables because of heavy rainfall,” he said, adding: “This might lead to price surge in the coming days.”
Over the past fortnight, price of cabbage and cauliflower has dropped by 34 percent and 29 percent, respectively. Cabbage and cauliflower were traded at Rs 25 and Rs 55 per kg, respectively, on Monday, compared to Rs 38 and Rs 78 per kg two weeks before. Similarly, prices of tomato and potato have dropped by 9 percent and 12 percent, respectively, to Rs 68 and Rs 36 per kg.
Likewise, price of bitter gourd has come down to Rs 49 per kg from Rs 58 per kg over the past two weeks. French bean and green soybean are selling for Rs 56 and Rs 97 per kg, respectively, down by Rs 10 and Rs 18 per kg.
However, there has been slight increment in price of snake gourd, pointed gourd and radish in the review period. Snake gourd was sold at Rs 38 per kg on Monday, while pointed gourd and radish were available at Rs 52 and Rs 21 per kg, respectively.
Some respite for consumers as vegetable prices fall
