The wholesale market in Kathmandu Valley reports a sharp increase in tomato prices due to constrained supply. Tomatoes from Nepal have surged by 85.71%, now trading at approximately $0.49 per kilogram, while Indian tomatoes rose by 9.01% to $0.38 per kilogram. Smaller local tomatoes climbed 56.74% to about $0.26 per kilogram.
Retail prices show even greater increases, with large tomatoes reaching up to $1.12 per kilogram, and smaller ones at $0.74 per kilogram, rising from an earlier range of $0.38-$0.45.
Supply chains are affected by weather conditions. "This supply-demand imbalance is the main reason behind the price hike," says Binay Shrestha from the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetable Market Development Board. The inflow of large tomatoes at the Kalimati market saw a reduction of 36.17%, settling at 15 tons monthly, while the small tomato supply diminished by 44.22%, totaling 56 tons.
Current retail trends reveal that while wholesale prices peaked at $0.60-$0.67 per kilogram, a recent correction indicates a decline. This coincides with the entry of more seasonal vegetables, which have helped stabilize overall supply, as confirmed by Monday's influx of 601 tons of fresh produce into the Kalimati market.
Wholesale prices for vegetables like potatoes, which fell to $0.25 per kilogram, carrots, cauliflower, and eggplants have dropped. Yet, retail mark-up sees potatoes at $0.38-$0.68 per kilogram. Eggplant wholesale pricing dropped to $0.13, but retail prices remain elevated at $0.60-$0.68 per kilogram.
A year-on-year decline in vegetable pricing, standing at 5.24%, contrasts with rising costs of certain products like onions, green peas, bitter gourds, and squash. Onions increased by 10.64% to $0.30 per kilogram wholesale, with retail prices up to $0.98-$1.06 per kilogram. Green peas climbed to $1.06, bitter gourds soared by 80% to $0.34, and both bottle gourds and squash increased substantially in their wholesale and retail evaluations.
Source: Kathmandu Post