The knotty problem in pricing nuts

Citizens allege there is no check and balance by district administration to control surging prices

MULTAN: With the increased demand and high sale during cold weather, the rates of dry fruits are having an upward trend in Multan. The demand for dry fruits has increased manifold and the prices have gone up way beyond the reach of low-income groups as apart from regular shopkeepers, the dry fruit vendors have significantly hiked their prices.

From roasted cashews to salted nuts, people are busy purchasing various dry fruits to satisfy their taste buds. Prices of dry fruits, including almond, cashew nuts and pistachio, have registered a sharp increase as demand has risen with the dropping temperature.



On the other hand, the buyers complained that prices of dry fruits this year have shot up and gone out of their reach. They urged authorities to take action against exorbitant rates. However, a vendor said that they were getting these fruits at high rates from the wholesalers. He said, “We have to spend extra amounts importing dry fruits from Afghanistan, India, Iran, China and Vietnam.”

Meanwhile, wholesale dealers said the demand for these dry fruits will further rise in coming days.  They maintained the wholesale market in the city observed an increase in prices due to heavy transport charges as well as export of dry fruits. Every market and superstore has its own rate for dried fruits in various localities, they said.

A shopkeeper Umar said, “Dry fruit dealers often store dry fruits, which results in shortage of the commodities in the market and results in high rates.” He, however, maintained that this is only ‘one reason’ of price hike.

Another shopkeeper Asif Khan said, “Due to high prices, the sale of these items has decreased by 40% as compared to previous year.” He added his daily sale was Rs8,000 to Rs10,000 last year which has decreased to Rs2,000 in this season.



A citizen, Ghulam Mustafa said it is too difficult for him to purchase these items due to very high rates. He said that the shopkeepers and open market traders pushed the rates for their own benefit. He alleged that there is no check and balance by the district administration in order to control the artificial price hike.

The rates of dry fruits being sold in the city markets are: peanuts Rs240 to Rs400 per kilogramme, grams Rs200 to Rs300 per kilogramme, varieties of almonds at Rs500, Rs800 to Rs1400 per kilogramme, pistachio with and without shell at Rs2,000 and Rs2,300 per kilogramme respectively, walnut at Rs400 to Rs700 per kilogramme, dried-up dates at Rs180 to Rs240 per kilogramme, pine nut (Chilgoza) at Rs2,600 to Rs3400 per kilogramme, cashew at Rs1,600 to Rs2,200 while dried apricots were being sold in open market at Rs650 to Rs800 per kilogramme.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 14^th, 2017.