KATHMANDU: The price of mango — the king of fruits — in the retail markets of the valley has not changed since the last three weeks despite a sharp fall in the wholesale price. Kathmanduites have been buying mango for Rs 60-70 per kg since mid- May.

Statistics of Kalimati Fruits and Vegetable Market Development Board (KFVMDB) show mango wholesale price decreased from Rs 57.50 kg to Rs 47.50 — 18.40 per cent — within the last three weeks.

Are customers benefiting from the reduced prices? No, said consumers. “I am buying a kg of mango for Rs 60 since last month,” said Jeeval Sejawal of Dillibazar. Many other consumers of Kathmandu, the capital city, were found spending up to Rs 70 for a kg of mango during peak supply season. It means retailers are benefiting more. Last year, mango was priced at Rs 40-50 per kg.

Price is based on the quality, said a shopkeeper at Bagbazar. “I have low priced mangoes also,” he said showing some unattractive ones. “These cost Rs 45 per kg.” “Drought in winter — from last September to March — has reduced mango production by 35 per cent,” said Ram Rijan Yadav of Kalimati. Export to India is also a cause of high prices in the domestic market, he said. Other fruit prices also have gone up. The price of both off-season and evergreen fruits has risen by an average 25 per cent from May 26 till date. Highest price hike — from Rs 105 to Rs 135 — is for apples during the period while pomegranate price increased by Rs 10.

Evergreen fruits like banana and papaya also experienced price hike. A dozen bananas cost Rs 42.50 in May 26 and that got hiked to Rs 47.50 while a kg of papaya’s price went up by Rs 5 and reached Rs 32.50.