Kathmandu, Sept 30: The surge in import of fruits and vegetables into the Kathmandu Valley has enhanced availability of these food items, claimed the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Committee.
The Valley had begun to experience a gradual shortage of fruits and green vegetables after the recent rain-triggered disasters affected the supplies. Import of these food items has started surging from today.
According to the Committee’s Information Officer Binay Shrestha, a total of 156 tons of fruits and vegetables have been brought into the Kathmandu Valley last Saturday night followed by 179 tons last Sunday.
As of today evening, 450 tons of fruits and vegetables have been imported, informed Shrestha, attributing the rise in the import of such essential food items to resumption of vehicular activities that were halted due to blocked roads.
On average, Kathmandu Valley receives 600 to 700 tons of fruits and vegetables daily.
The Committee assured that with the increase in the import of these food items, the prices will also decrease. It had been difficult to import food items into Kathmandu Valley after the major highways and roads across the country were damaged and blocked by the incessant rainfall occurred for three days recently.
Limited supply of these produces had resulted in sharp increase in the price.
But now the Committee assured that the price will go down with the increase as vehicular movements have been resumed.
The congestion occurred due to disruption in the traffic is reported to have damaged some fruits and vegetables, the Committee appraised.
Fruits and vegetables are brought into Kathmandu Valley from Dhading, Kavrepalanchowk, Nuwakot, Makawanpur, Sindhupalchowk districts, some parts of the Madhesh Province and neighbouring India as well, according to the Committee.
