Surge in vegetable prices shocks consumers

Published July 14, 2023
Vegetable exports swelled to 1.276m tonnes ($283m) in the first 11 months of the previous fiscal year compared to 874,231 tonnes ($291m) a year ago.—PPI/file
Vegetable exports swelled to 1.276m tonnes ($283m) in the first 11 months of the previous fiscal year compared to 874,231 tonnes ($291m) a year ago.—PPI/file

KARACHI: After a steep rise in wheat flour and sugar rates, consumers brave another challenge of paying more than double for various vegetables, while pulses despite a drop in wholesale rates being retailed at higher prices.

For example, turrai (ridge gourd), lokki (bottle gourd) and karela (bitter gourd) prices have surged to Rs200 per kg from Rs80-100 a few days back, followed by bhindi (okra) Rs300 from Rs150-200 per kg.

Tomato rates now hover between Rs100 per kg compared to Rs80 a few days back. Ahead of Eidul Azha, the red fruit was selling at Rs50-60 per kg. The price of onion is now Rs70-80 per kg against Rs50-70.

Potato sells at Rs90-100 per kg despite a rise in local production. Besides, both onion and potato hold a bulk share in overall exports of vegetables.

The country’s overall vegetable exports in terms of quantity swelled to 1.276m tonnes ($283m) in 11MFY23 as compared to 874,231 tonnes ($291m) in the same period last fiscal year.

Despite fall in wholesale rates of pulses, retailers continue to fleece buyers

Pakistan’s potato production rose by 4.8pc in FY23 to 8,319,000 tonnes from 7,937,000 tonnes in FY22, while onion production had dropped by 18pc to 1,684,000 tonnes from 2,062,000 tonnes in FY22, according to the Economic Survey FY23.

Falahi Anjuman Wholesale Vegetable Market President Haji Shahjehan said prices of vegetables usually crawl up at the end stocks and drop on the arrival of new crop.

He said the wholesale price of good quality onion arriving from Balochistan crop ranges between Rs45-50 per kg depicting no major rise, while medium quality onions sell between Rs25-35 per kg. No shortage of onion exists despite rains in Balochistan and problems in the arrival of goods due to bad road conditions, he claimed.

He said currently potato is arriving from Punjab’s cold storage and its price has risen to Rs2,200-2,400 per 40 kg from Rs1,800-2,000.

Meanwhile, wholesale prices of various pulses have fallen by Rs10-25 per kg due to excessive imports. However, retailers continued to sell the products at higher rates.

Karachi Wholesalers Grocers Association (KWGA) President Rauf Ibrahim said the wholesale rate of daal mash fell to Rs425 from Rs450 per kg while gram pulse, moong and masoor rates slipped to Rs190, Rs195 and Rs225 from Rs200, Rs210 and Rs235 per kg. Kabuli Channa (white gram) and Kala Channa (black gram) wholesale rates fell to Rs330 and Rs180 from Rs360 and Rs190 per kg.

On the contrary, retailers are charging Rs520 per kg for mash pulse and Rs260 for gram pulse and Rs280 for moong and masoor each, respectively.

Mr Rauf said traders had made bulk imports of various pulses after the State Bank of Pakistan relaxed restrictions on the opening of letters of credit.

The country’s pulses import rose to 1.252m tonnes ($887mn) in 11MFY23 versus 849,922 tonnes ($568m) in the same period of last fiscal year. The average per tonne (APT) price of pulses in 11MFY23 stood higher at $708 as compared to $667 in the same period last year.

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2023

Follow Dawn Business on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business, finance and tech from Pakistan and across the world.

Opinion

Accessing the RSF

Accessing the RSF

RSF can help catalyse private sector inves­tment encouraging investment flows, build upon institutional partnerships with MDBs, other financial institutions.

Editorial

Madressah oversight
Updated 19 Dec, 2024

Madressah oversight

Bill should be reconsidered and Directorate General of Religious Education, formed to oversee seminaries, should not be rolled back.
Kurram’s misery
19 Dec, 2024

Kurram’s misery

THE unfolding humanitarian crisis in Kurram district, particularly in Parachinar city, has reached alarming...
Hiking gas rates
19 Dec, 2024

Hiking gas rates

IMPLEMENTATION of a new Ogra recommendation to increase the gas prices by an average 8.7pc or Rs142.45 per mmBtu in...
Geopolitical games
Updated 18 Dec, 2024

Geopolitical games

While Assad may be gone — and not many are mourning the end of his brutal rule — Syria’s future does not look promising.
Polio’s toll
18 Dec, 2024

Polio’s toll

MONDAY’s attacks on polio workers in Karak and Bannu that martyred Constable Irfanullah and wounded two ...
Development expenditure
18 Dec, 2024

Development expenditure

PAKISTAN’S infrastructure development woes are wide and deep. The country must annually spend at least 10pc of its...