Minding the markets

Unnatural hikes of vegetable prices harm farmers, squeeze consumers and encourage middlemen.

The disconnect in price between wholesale and retail sellers has long been a reality in Nepal. On a positive note, of late, there has been a decent decrease in wholesale vegetable prices at Kathmandu’s main distributor, the Kalimati fruit and vegetable market. The price of cauliflowers from Tarai has dropped by 61 percent a kg in just a week. While this vegetable was priced at Rs65 per kg on December 21, it now costs only Rs25 as of Sunday, December 29. Similarly, local cauliflower, sold at the same price as the Tarai cauliflower last week, was going for Rs40 on the same day. Prices of tomatoes, potatoes, cabbages, beans, etc., have also plummeted. Nonetheless, in retail markets across the country, these veggies still cost customers an arm and a leg. Yet local governments and regulatory bodies like the Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection have failed to intervene and regulate market prices.