KATHMANDU, Nov 11: Fruit prices have increased by as much as Rs 15 per kg in the wholesale market thanks to drop in supplies due to transportation strike enforced by the 33-pary alliance.
According to traders at the Kuleshwar-based fruits wholesale market, fruits like apple, banana, orange, papaya, sweet orange and water melon among others have become expensive by Rs 5-15 per kg compared to past week.
“Earlier, the market used to receive 100 tons of fruits in a day. But on Tuesday, we received just around 75 tons,” Laxman Rawat, a wholesaler at Kuleshwar market, told Republica. “This made fruits expensive.” He said fruit prices will go up further if ongoing transportation strike continues.
On Tuesday, apple was sold at Rs 150 per kg in the wholesale market up from last week´s Rs 135 per kg. Similarly, price of banana also increased to Rs 60 per dozen up by Rs 5 per dozen compared to last week. Orange was sold at Rs 80 per kg on Tuesday compared to Rs 70 per kg recorded last week. Water melon and papaya became dearer by Rs 5 and Rs 15 per kg, respectively, to Rs 60 and Rs 80 per kg.
However, the price of pomegranate has come down by Rs 25 per kg to Rs 265, while pineapple price has remained unchanged at Rs 90 per unit.
Traders expect the fruit prices to increase further if the transportation strike continues thereby affecting the supplies.
Source: Republica