Kathmandu, July 24

Price of major vegetables in the domestic market has started to come down gradually owing to escalating monsoon across the country, which causes vegetables to decay faster.

As traders are focused on clearing their stock of vegetables to prevent it from decaying, consumers in the Kathmandu Valley are getting respite in some of the major vegetables like tomatoes, potatoes, cabbages, cauliflowers, mushrooms and chayote (iskus), among others. These vegetables have witnessed as much as 30 per cent drop in their retail price as compared to their price one month ago.

“The supply of vegetables is increasing as this is the chief harvesting time of different major vegetables. Along with the increased supply, both farmers and traders are promptly clearing their stock of vegetables even at lower rates to prevent vegetables from decaying,” explained Binaya Shrestha, deputy director of Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board (KFVMDB).

Shrestha, also the deputy director of KFVMDB, informed that price of major vegetables are falling of late also because of availability of additional options for consumers.

“As this is also the prime harvesting season of vegetables like French beans, bottle gourds (lauka), pointed gourds (parwar), and bitter gourds (titey karela), among others, other major vegetables have become cheaper,” Shrestha added.

The Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market — the major supplier of vegetables for Kathmandu Valley — has been regularly supplying almost 650 metric tonnes of vegetables in the Valley.

Statistics prepared by KFVMDB show that price of tomatoes has come down by 30 per cent to Rs 45 per kilogram in the last one-month time. A month ago, tomatoes cost Rs 65 per kilogram in the retail market.

Similarly, price of potatoes has dropped to Rs 25 per kilogram from Rs 28 per kilogram — a drop in price by 10 per cent — in the last one month.

Prices of cabbages and cauliflowers have fallen by 10 per cent and 12 per cent, respectively, over a month. While price of cabbage has come down to Rs 25 per kilogram from Rs 28 per kilogram a month ago, cauliflower price also witnessed a drop by Rs 10 per kilogram to Rs 75 per kilogram in the last one month.

Vegetables like sponge gourds (chichindo) and mushrooms also have witnessed drop in their retail price by 18 per cent and four per cent over the last one month. While price of sponge gourd has dropped by Rs 10 per kilogram to Rs 45, mushroom has become cheaper by Rs 10 per kilogram and is currently available at Rs 195 per kilogram.