KATHAMNDU, Aug 19: Prices of rice and pulses have increased by as much as Rs 20 per kg in the domestic market following rise in prices of these commodities in India - the major source country.
Dealers had raised price of food commodities by Rs 5-20 per kg three weeks ago as well, citing rise in transportation cost. This time, dealers have attributed price rise to disruption in supplies from source countries as well as transportation strike in different parts of the country.
Siddhi Gorkhali, office secretary at Nepal Retailers Association (NRA), said increasing dependency on other countries is making food commodities dearer in the domestic market. “Whenever prices of these commodities increase in source countries, it directly affects prices in the domestic market,” he added.
Though the price of other commodities remained largely unchanged over the past couple of weeks, rise in different varieties of pulses have become dearer during the period.
Gorkhali said Nepal is highly dependent on India for rice and pulses.
According to the association, the price of Pokhreli rice and Jira Masino have increased by Rs 10 kg each to touch Rs 70 and Rs 75 per kg respectively. Similarly, Indian Basmati rice has also become dearer by Rs 12 and is selling at Rs 100 per kg. Prices of Sawa Jira and Mansuli rice have also increased by Rs 10 per kg to Rs 70 per kg and Rs 65 per kg respectively.
Prices of pulses like Mung Chatta, Chana Dal and Mung Khosta have increased by Rs 20 per kg each to Rs140, Rs 120 and Rs 140 respectively. Mas Dal is currently selling at Rs 125 per kg, up from Rs 115 per recorded a week ago. Lentil has also become dearer by Rs 10 per kg and is selling at Rs 110 per kg.
“The prices of food commodities have been consistently going up over the past few months. This trend will continue until November when new harvest of rice and pulses enter the market,” Ram Krishna Manandhar, vice-president of the association, told Republica.
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