lahore
The supply of vegetables and fruits remained intact in the retail markets as well as at Sunday bazaars despite flood situation, however the rates continued to remain high of tomato, touching the new high of Rs120 per kg during the week.
Upward trend in the rates of vegetables continued and majority of seasonal vegetables were not available at the Sunday bazaars, however city markets were not witnessing any crunch in this regard. All Pakistan Vegetable and Fruit Market Dealers Association President Ch Zaheer said that tomato price was under pressure as crop from several parts of Balochistan was reaching the whole country, causing the sharp rise in its price because the dealers have to bear additional casts of transportation. Tomato was the major item which was almost unavailable in the entire Sunday bazaars while its selected availability at few bazaars raised its rate to high.
The retail price of tomato during the week shot up to Rs120 per kg in open market from Rs80 per kg. Tomato price started to go up in Aug last when its retail price increased to Rs60 per kg from Rs30 per kg.
However, supply of Indian tomato which is coming through Wagha, has stable the rate to some extent in the range of Rs80 to Rs100 per kg in different localities of the city. Ch Zaheer claimed that tomato crop from Sindh would start reaching the market in Oct, stabilizing the rate further in open market. He observed that there were reports of very little damage of tomato crop particularly in Sindh due to floods.
According to him, the price of tomato will drop next week as more arrivals from India through Wagha Border are expected to reach markets in next couple of days.
In the same way, seasonal vegetables including pumpkin, bitter gourd, luffa, lady finger and arum were not available at Sunday Bazaars, as supply of almost all items has dropped by 25 to 30 per cent, causing surge in their prices and resulting in absence of these commodities in cheaper markets. Venders at the wholesale market said prices have been increased because of dependency in supply from flood-hit areas. The price of onion is touching Rs70 per kg in the market and Sunday bazaars while other items rates also hovered around Rs80-100 per kg. Local potato continued to retail at Rs65-70 per kg with imported potato recording a rate of Rs63 per kg. Cucumber price jacked up to Rs80 per kg against Rs40-50 while bitter gourd was selling at Rs60 per kg, brinjal price at Rs50, bottle gourd at Rs60, apple gourd at Rs70 and lady finger was available at Rs60 per kg. Garlic China price was raised and fixed at Rs112 per kg while, garlic local reached 120 per kg. Ginger China fixed at Rs280 per kg and Ginger Thailand at Rs158 per kg.
Prices of green chili was fixed at Rs60 per kg while sold at Rs70 per kg. Spinach rate was gained by Rs7 per kg and fixed at Rs32 per kg. Ladyfinger was not sold in Sunday bazaars. The price of arum was fixed at Rs36 per kg but also missing there. Lemon local was fixed at Rs130 but sold at Rs160 per kg. Cabbage price was fixed at Rs39 per kg but being sold at Rs50 per kg and cauliflower was fixed at Rs36 per kg and sold at Rs60 per kg. The prices of different variety of apple were being sold in the range of Rs60 to 100 per kg in makeshift markets while banana A quality was fixed at Rs56 per dozen and B quality at Rs40 per dozen but being sold for Rs60 per dozen in makeshift markets. Peach A-category price was fixed at Rs120 per kg and B-category was fixed at Rs75 per kg while it was sold at Rs150 per kg.
Dealers said that impact of flood will continue to affect the prices of vegetables as the rates of almost each vegetable registered an increase of Rs10-20 per kg during the last 15 days. Immediate impact of flood was witnessed on the prices of vegetables which increased during the last two weeks. However, the import of vegetables has stabilized or decline to rates to some extent.