December 1: The supply of vegetables has been increasing in the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market in recent days. The supply of vegetables, which had been declining since the start of the lockdown, had not been able to increase even after the lockdown was lifted. However, the supply system has been slowly improving since the last one week.

According to the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetable Market Development Committee, only 300 to 400 tons of vegetables used to enter Kalimati daily. The supply has improved since last Monday.

According to the committee, 600 tons of vegetables and fruits were imported on November 23, 659 tons on November 24, 600 tons on November 25, 600 tons on November 26, 500 tons on November 27 and 633 tons on November 28. According to the data kept by the committee, up to 700-800 tons of vegetables and fruits enter Kalimati daily under normal circumstances. A total of 296 tons of vegetables had entered Kalimati on October 24.

Executive Director of the committee Binod Kumar Bhattarai said that the supply of vegetables and fruits has been improving after Tihar. According to him, the amoount of vegetables including cauliflowers, tomatoes and potatoes has increased in Kalimati after Tihar.

Local suppliers say that they have also increased the supply of vegetables as the number of people coming to Kathmandu after Tihar and Chhath has increased. Gita Prasad Acharya, chairperson of the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Entrepreneurs’ Association said that the supply has also increased along with the increase in consumption of vegetables after the festival. He said that another reason for the increase in supply was the increase in domestic production.

Consumption of vegetables had reduced as hotels, restaurants, schools, colleges and hostels were closed for a long time due to the lockdown. However, this situation is currently improving.