Major edible commodities see price drop

KATHMANDU, Feb 28: The price of rice and different types of lentils has gone down in the Valley, bringing some relief to consumers who have been braving the impact of high inflation. Traders have attributed the drop in prices to the entry of new harvests in the market.



Lentil prices have gone down in range of Rs 5 to Rs 20 per kg, while rice and beaten rice have become cheaper by Rs 5 to Rs 15 per kg. [break]



According to Nepal Retailers´ Association (NRA), the price of sugar has also dropped by Rs 5 per kg to Rs 65 per kg.



“Rice and lentils have seen as much as 30 percent drop in prices because of improved supply," said Ganga Ram Maharjan, sales executive of Brown rice and Health Foods at Indra Chowk.



Among major rice varieties, the price of Sona Mansuli has dropped by Rs 5 to Rs 30 per kg. Basmati, on the other hand, has become cheaper by Rs 20 per kg and currently selling at Rs 70 per kg. Pokhareli rice too has become cheaper by Rs 10 and is now priced at Rs 50 per kg.



Likewise, prices of different quality of beaten rice have decreased by Rs 10 per kg. On Tuesday, beaten rice was traded at Rs 40, Rs 50 and Rs 90 per kg depending on quality.



“The prices of lentils have decreased in the domestic market because new harvests have started entering into the market," said Rajendra Baniya, proprietor of B G Marketing at Koteshwar. Price of Chana dal has decreased by Rs 20 per kg to Rs 90, while the price of Mung Chata has come down to Rs 100 per kg from Rs 120 per kg recorded a couple of weeks ago. Mung Khosta too is selling cheaper at Rs 110 per kg.



Likewise, price of Mas has come down from Rs 120 per kg to Rs 100 per kg, while Musuro is available for Rs 75 per kg, down from Rs 80 per kg.



“Although the extent of drop varies in the market, price of major food items is decreasing,” said Siddhi Gorkhali, office secretary of Nepal Retailers Association, referring to significant rise in production of major food crops.



The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoAC) had a few months ago announced that paddy output will hit record high this year. The ministry had announced significant rise in lentil productions as well.



Citing such announcements, Nepal Rastra Bank - the central monetary authority -- has projected that price of rice and lentils would go further down in the market.

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