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Essentials’ prices climb cost ladder
KATHMANDU, JUL 25 -
The price of major commodities such as rice, pulse and sugar has gone up significantly in the last couple of weeks. Retailers said that the price of essential daily goods had increased because of a decline in supply and arbitrary pricing.
According to the monthly average data compiled by the Department of Commerce during the first month of the last fiscal year, mansuli rice which used to cost Rs. 31.50 per kg has surged to Rs. 50.
"Till a few weeks ago, we used to sell mansuli at Rs. 35, now the price has increased to Rs. 50," said Prakash Shrestha, a retailer at New Baneshwor, Kathmandu. He said that the price of jeera masino had soared to Rs. 76 per kg from Rs. 52 three weeks ago.
The price of pulse has also gone up significantly. The price of rahar went up to Rs. 135 per kg from Rs. 125 per kg during the period. Pulse (mas) which was sold at Rs. 116 about three weeks ago recorded a price rise of Rs. 9 per kg to Rs. 125; and mungi is being sold at Rs. 150 per kg, up from Rs. 135 over the period.
The price of average quality soybean oil and mustard oil has gone up to Rs. 90 and Rs. 95 respectively, up from Rs. 85 and Rs. 90 over the period. Similarly, the price of sugar has increased by Rs. 10 per kg to Rs. 75. The price of spices such as jeera and dhaniya soared to Rs. 320 and Rs. 120 per kg, up from Rs. 282 and Rs. 115 per kg respectively. During the same period last year, these spices used to cost an average of Rs. 241.87 and Rs. 123 respectively.
Retailers said the soaring price of essentials was a
result of the monopoly enjoyed by some big traders and
weak market monitoring by the government.
President of the Retailers Association Krishna Man Shrestha said that the price hike in major essential commodities was the result of weak government policy, lack of firm market inspection procedure and the monopoly of big traders.
"The market has witnessed a price hike of up to 60 percent in major essential commodities," said Shrestha. "The odd and even number plate syndicate system
in transportation has also
contributed partially to the price rise." Similarly, Pabitra Bajracharya, president of the Nepal Retailers Association, said that the price hike was the result of the monopoly of big traders who are charging arbitrarily taking advantage of the political flux in the nation.
He said that the price of rice had increased up to Rs. 200 per 30 kg sack making it dearer by 33 percent within a few weeks.
Commodity price Per KG
Three Weeks ago Current Price
Mansuli Rice Rs 35 Rs 50
Jeera Masino Rice Rs 52 Rs 76
Basmati Rice Rs 85 Rs 100
Pigeon Pea Rs 125 Rs 135
Black gram Rs 116 Rs 125
Sugar Rs 75 Rs 65
Cumin Rs 282 Rs 320
Posted on: 2010-07-26 08:20
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