Commodity costs: As temperatures drops, prices of vegetables go up
Prices of fruits remain unchanged owing to adequate supply
PHOTO: ONLINE
ISLAMABAD:
As the temperatures drop in the twin cities, the prices of vegetables have gone up in the local markets.
Traders fear that prices of fresh vegetables might further rise in the coming days if the chilly weather conditions continue, particularly in northern and upper regions of the country where vegetables are produced.
A random survey of local vendors and weekly markets revealed that there was no shortage of supply. However, this has not stopped market forces from raising prices, especially in light of the recent earthquake and subsequent falling temperatures.
Tomatoes, potatoes, bottle gourd (calabash or long melon), green peas, turnips, green bell peppers and bitter gourd (karela) recorded sharp increase in prices from Rs10 per kg to Rs20 in local markets.
In the weekly Sunday markets of the capital, tomatoes changed hands at Rs70 a kg, compared to Rs80 at vegetable vendors in regular markets. Similarly, bottle gourd was being sold at Rs70 a kg at the Sunday markets and at Rs80 per kg at vegetable shops in different areas of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Moreover, traders charged Rs130 per kg for bell peppers and Rs60 per kg for turnips.
Last week, the country received heavy rains, while a record 60 centimetre (two feet) snowfall was recorded in Naran and Kaghan valleys – breaking the record of 40 years. This has not only wreaked havoc in upper parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, but has also damaged potato crops in the area which were in the harvesting stage.
“Due to early snowfall, many seasonal vegetables have been badly affected, particularly potatoes and peas,” said Noor Ahmed, a wholesale vegetable supplier at a local market.
The prices of fruit have remained unchanged, however, with apples, guavas, grapes and bananas remaining at last week’s level on the back of plentiful supply.
Apples and grapes are being sold at Rs90 per kg, while guavas and bananas for Rs50 per kg and per dozen, respectively.
Surprisingly, except for chilghoza and almonds, the prices of most dried fruits remained unchanged from last month, contrary to a trend where their prices go up as the temperature goes down.
However, pulses such as black gram (mash) are still retailed at a high price of Rs240 to Rs250 per kg, which is almost twice the rate for chicken in the local market.
Pulses are considered the food of poor, yet this year the rates of pulses and lentils remain at an all time high, despite low inflation and abundant supply.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 2nd, 2015.
As the temperatures drop in the twin cities, the prices of vegetables have gone up in the local markets.
Traders fear that prices of fresh vegetables might further rise in the coming days if the chilly weather conditions continue, particularly in northern and upper regions of the country where vegetables are produced.
A random survey of local vendors and weekly markets revealed that there was no shortage of supply. However, this has not stopped market forces from raising prices, especially in light of the recent earthquake and subsequent falling temperatures.
Tomatoes, potatoes, bottle gourd (calabash or long melon), green peas, turnips, green bell peppers and bitter gourd (karela) recorded sharp increase in prices from Rs10 per kg to Rs20 in local markets.
In the weekly Sunday markets of the capital, tomatoes changed hands at Rs70 a kg, compared to Rs80 at vegetable vendors in regular markets. Similarly, bottle gourd was being sold at Rs70 a kg at the Sunday markets and at Rs80 per kg at vegetable shops in different areas of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Moreover, traders charged Rs130 per kg for bell peppers and Rs60 per kg for turnips.
Last week, the country received heavy rains, while a record 60 centimetre (two feet) snowfall was recorded in Naran and Kaghan valleys – breaking the record of 40 years. This has not only wreaked havoc in upper parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, but has also damaged potato crops in the area which were in the harvesting stage.
“Due to early snowfall, many seasonal vegetables have been badly affected, particularly potatoes and peas,” said Noor Ahmed, a wholesale vegetable supplier at a local market.
The prices of fruit have remained unchanged, however, with apples, guavas, grapes and bananas remaining at last week’s level on the back of plentiful supply.
Apples and grapes are being sold at Rs90 per kg, while guavas and bananas for Rs50 per kg and per dozen, respectively.
Surprisingly, except for chilghoza and almonds, the prices of most dried fruits remained unchanged from last month, contrary to a trend where their prices go up as the temperature goes down.
However, pulses such as black gram (mash) are still retailed at a high price of Rs240 to Rs250 per kg, which is almost twice the rate for chicken in the local market.
Pulses are considered the food of poor, yet this year the rates of pulses and lentils remain at an all time high, despite low inflation and abundant supply.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 2nd, 2015.