Ganga Ram Maharjan, sales executive of Brown Rice and Health Foods at Ason, said the price of Kwati has increased due to insufficient domestic production of beans this year. [break]
Traders say demand for kwati has increased by 20 to 25 percent this year as police have prohibited hawkers from selling in the street.
“Price of ingredients used in kwati like small pea, white pea, green pea, kidney beans, gram and white gram among other beans has increased by Rs 5 to Rs 30 per kg,” said Maharjan.
Though traders are already selling kwati at higher prices, officials of Nepal Retailers´ Association said price of beans has not increased recently.
Kalpana Maji, sales executive of Tuladhar Store at Mahabouddha, said price rise has not affected demand for assorted beans this year as it is a must have food commodity during the Janai Purnima festival.
“Price has increased this year because we have to import different varieties of beans from countries like Australia, Canada and India. Price fluctuation in producing countries directly affect prices here,” added Maji.
“There is no uniformity in prices. Consumers have to pay whatever price the shopkeepers quote,” Maharjan said, urging the government to come up with effective market policy to control market anomalies.
Shops at Ason and Mahabouddha are selling 25 to 30 kg kwati each every day.
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