Vegetable prices in Kathmandu Valley have risen sharply after continuous rainfall, floods, and landslides disrupted supply routes to the capital. Heavy downpours over the weekend halted transport, creating price spikes during the Dashain festive period.
Traders said prices may remain high until the supply chain stabilises, winter vegetables enter the market, and the festivities conclude. The government closed major highways connecting Kathmandu for three days due to weather forecasts, while some roads have since partially reopened under monitoring of landslide-prone areas.
According to the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetable Market Development Board, wholesale prices of green vegetables increased by up to 134 per cent on Sunday. The market received only 312 tons of vegetables on Saturday, less than half the normal daily supply of 700 tons. On Sunday afternoon, volumes had dropped further to 58 tons.
Kathmandu depends on supplies from neighbouring districts, including Dhading, Chitwan, Makawanpur, and Kavrepalancok, along with the Tarai. Even minor disruptions on these routes affect food availability in the Valley.
Wholesale prices at Kalimati showed large monthly increases for potatoes, onions, carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, eggplant, French beans, bitter gourd, pointed gourd, sponge gourd, pumpkin, okra, leafy greens, mushrooms, and green chillies. Traders said wholesale price rises were moderate relative to shortages, but retail prices surged.
Cauliflower traded at Rs95 (US$1.14) per kg wholesale, but retailed at up to Rs160 (US$1.92). Binaya Shrestha of the Kalimati board said, "Cauliflower at Rs100 per kg in wholesale is reasonable given the gap between demand and supply. But we've heard that retailers are charging a high profit margin, which is why prices are soaring at the consumer level."
Tomato prices fell slightly by 2.6 per cent to Rs75 (US$0.90) per kg wholesale, but retail rates ranged from Rs140–150 (US$1.68–1.80). Carrots from local production were Rs125 (US$1.50) per kg wholesale, up 8.7 per cent, while Terai-grown carrots rose by 14.58 per cent to Rs110 (US$1.32). Retail prices were Rs140–150 (US$1.68–1.80). Cabbage more than doubled to Rs95 (US$1.14) per kg, up 102 per cent.
Brinjal rose 13.64 per cent to Rs25 (US$0.30) per kg, while round brinjal declined 13.58 per cent to Rs35 (US$0.42), though retail prices stayed at Rs90–100 (US$1.08–1.20). French beans increased by 15.79 per cent to Rs110 (US$1.32) per kg, with hybrid types up 29.41 per cent to the same price. Bitter gourd rose 14.04 per cent to Rs 65 (US$0.78), but retailed at Rs 110–120 (US$1.32–1.44).
Consumers reported difficulty reconciling official inflation data with market prices. Nepal Rastra Bank recorded consumer inflation at 1.68 per cent year-on-year in August, with food and beverage inflation at -2.28 per cent. But retail buyers said vegetables remained expensive regardless of the official figures.
Source: The Kathmandu Post
