KATHMANDU: Prices of essential commodities have skyrocketed thanks to a sharp fall in produce coupled with indefinite stir called by Tharuhat Joint Struggle Committee in large parts of the Tarai, popularly known as the country's food basket.

Long drought had led many farmers to take a break. To make matter worse, TJSC agitators brought normal life to a standstill on the East-West highway for the eighth straight day today. The Tarai accounts for 70 per cent of green vegetables shipped to Kathmandu.

Arjun Aryal, deputy director at Kalimati Fruits and Vegetable Bazaar Development Board, said, "The shipment of vegetables has gone down by around 30 per cent." According to the statistics provided by the Board, the average daily supply of vegetables and fresh fish to Kathmandu is 500 metric tonnes, far from adequate to meet the demand. The retail prices of much-consumed vegetables like tomato, cauliflower, pointed gourd, smooth gourd and ladyfinger have soared by up to 45 per cent.

Valley denizens have managed to live on vegetables supplied from Kavre, Chitwan, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Nuwakot and Dhading districts since the supply dipped.

Chandra Kumar Puri, vegetable wholesaler at Kalimati blamed the dry weather for the inadequate supply. "Not only the Tarai but the entire nation has been without adequate rain in the recent months. Drought has hit the produce of vegetables worst. Farmers are facing tough times," Aryal said.

The vehicular movement on the East-West highway is virtually nil. Lathi-brandishing agitators continue to sporadically vandalise the trucks laden with vegetables. Aryal said security agencies, however, were cooperating with the vegetable suppliers to escort their trucks.

Many vehicles are stranded on the highway fearing attacks. There is no immediate sign of narrowing the gap between demand and supply. "We have to buy foodstuffs, irrespective of the price," said Manshree Lama, a Ghattekulo homemaker. Meanwhile, the prices of storable vegetable items like onion and potato are stable.