Kathmandu, April 18
Inflation of vegetables has increased in Kanchanpur district due to a lack of availability of
vegetables in markets following a decline in local production in recent periods.
Production of vegetables has declined due to the sudden weather changes. Former Chairperson of Kanchanpur Vegetable Entrepreneurs’ Association, Tarka Raj Bhatta said that although the local production – pumpkin, brinjal, bottle gourd is in the market, other vegetables are being imported from the Indian market.
Vegetables like onion, potato, long bean, tomato, okra, and carrot are being imported regularly from India.
Bhatta said tomatoes cultivated by farmers were damaged due to the sudden changes in
weather and the supply of local produce was low as compared to previous years.
Sample tests of the vegetables imported from India via the Gaddachauki checkpoint are carried out at a lab located at the vegetable market in Attariya, Kailali.
Tomatoes cultivated by Khyaliram Barma on around 15 katthas of land at Bhimdutta
Municipality-19 were completely damaged due to rain and excessive cold. He had planted
tomatoes in the month of November.
Barma, who has been involved in vegetable farming for the past 13 years, said that the prices of tomatoes and lemons have skyrocketed. Though bottle gourd and pumpkin have become cheaper, the price of other vegetables is high, said businessmen.
A vegetable businessman, Anil Prasad Chaudhary, said that they are now compelled to sell a piece of lemon at Rs 20 after the price of lemon reached Rs 500 per kg.
Although the supply of vegetables produced in the district is low, there is no lack of vegetables in the market.
(RSS)
