Vegetable Woes

Pakistan

Prices of seasonal green vegetables,particularly potato,have shot up by around 100 per cent with the retail price of potatoes going up to Rs 40 and even Rs 60 per kg in some markets in Karachi in November. While the best-quality ginger is selling at Rs 220 per kg in retail,medium-quality ginger is going for Rs 180-190 per kg. Even with potatoes,medium-quality ones are being sold at Rs 40 per kg,a considerable jump as best-quality potatoes were available for Rs 20 per kg a few months ago. Onions prices also continue to be on the higher side at Rs 50 per kg. Prices of essential vegetables like tomatoes rose to Rs 65 per kg. Carrots are being sold at Rs 60 per kg.

China

Vegetable prices in 36 cities in China are expected to rise in the coming months,as they did in September,putting pressure on consumer inflation,the National Development and Reform Commission said. Vegetable prices went up by 5.2 per cent from a year earlier. The average cost of 18 vegetables rose by 7 per cent in a week during September. Tomatoes recorded the largest increase of 21.1 per cent,while eggplant followed at 18.7 per cent and romaine lettuce at 13.3 per cent. Carrots were priced at about 2.49 yuan per kilo and are now sold at 3.44 yuan. It is the same for tomatoes which were previously priced at 2.87 yuan per kilo and are now 3.44 yuan. The price of ginger went up from 9.18 yuan per kilo to 10.71 yuan.

New Zealand

After the goods and services tax was lifted to 15 per cent in October 2010,there has been a jump in the prices of vegetables such as tomatoes and lettuce. Food prices rose 2.1 per cent in June from May,the biggest monthly increase since a 2.2 per cent gain in October 2010,according to Statistics New Zealand. Vegetable prices jumped 18.7 per cent and fruit prices rose 6.6 per cent,resulting in a 13.4 per cent gain in the fruit and vegetable sub-index.

Nepal

In August,vegetable prices soared in Kathmandu as a result of short supplies due to continuous rains. Onions,in particular,became costlier as the wholesale prices of onions imported from India doubled in two weeks. Wholesale prices surged to Rs 90 per kg from Rs 53 per kg,with retail prices jumping to Rs 110 per kg. According to traders,Indian onions fulfill about 90 per cent of the local requirement. Wholesale prices of potato,cabbage,white radish,egg plant,french beans,pointed gourd,bitter gourd and squash went up by Rs 2-15 per kg. French beans,in particular,became dearer by Rs 25 per kg. In

October,wholesale price of onion went up to Rs 105 per kg,and wholesale price of potato increased by Rs 30-60 per kg. Currently,the wholesale price of bitter gourd is Rs 100 per kg,while cauliflower and tomato cost Rs 60 per kg each.

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