Nepal: Veg arrivals down Potatoes selling cheaper as supplies improve

Despite the major harvesting season, the amount of vegetables arriving in the market has not gone up. The arrival of vegetables in Kalimati wholesale market has dropped significantly, going down well below the volume recorded in lean season.

However, consumers have one thing to cheer about. Price of potatoes -- the most popular vegetable item - has gone down significantly amid increasing supplies.

According to Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board, daily arrival of vegetables in the Kalimati market dropped to 276 tons on Tuesday, down from 368 tons recorded on last Wednesday. About 600 to 650 tons of vegetables enter the Kalimati market on normal days.

Binaya Shrestha, planning officer at the board, said inflow of vegetable items was declining due to low production in key districts though the harvesting season of some vegetable items has already begun."Though there is short supply of some vegetable items in the market, supplies of fresh potatoes have gradually increased with the beginning of new harvesting season”" Shrestha told myrepublica.com on Tuesday.

Arrivals of potatoes in the market have climbed to as much as 120 tons per day this week, up from around 96 tons recorded last week. The improved supplies have also pushed down potato prices in the market by over 20 percent. Prices of Nepali and Chinese potatoes have gone down to Rs 33 and Rs 28 per kg from Rs 45 and Rs 36 per kg respectively recorded a week ago. Likewise, Bhutanese and Indian potatoes are selling for Rs 32 and Rs 22 per kg, down from Rs 45 and Rs 30 per kg respectively.

Due to sharp decline in potato production in Nepali farms, price had climbed up to as much as Rs 50 per kg in retail market. “

"Domination of imported potatoes in the market is declining due to arrival of fresh potatoes from Kavre and other district. Price will further go down in coming days as supplies improve," Ganesh Shrestha, an importer and wholesaler of potatoes at Kalimati market, said.

Until a few days ago, local market was fully dependent on imported potatoes. Market share of local potatoes has increased to 30 percent, up from around 10 percent recorded about a week ago.

Along with potatoes, the prices of big tomato and onion have also gone down to Rs 32 and Rs 36 per kg from Rs 40 and Rs 36 per kg recorded a week ago. However, price of garlic has almost doubled in Nepali market due to soaring price in China -- the key supplier of garlic to local market.

China supplies about 80 percent of garlic consumed locally. Chinese and Nepali garlic are selling for Rs 140 and Rs 120 per kg in retail market, up from Rs 85 and Rs 75 per kg respectively about a month ago. Carrot is selling at Rs 26 per kg, up from Rs 24 recorded a week ago.


Source: myrepublica.com

Publication date: 11/11/2009

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